A day well spent! Blue Springs Lake is the closest water location to our current residence. As an…read moreeast coaster and big fan of the beach, I was a tad disappointed by the lack of large bodies of water near Kansas City. Insert Blue Springs Lake. Imported sand made me feel like I was spending a day at the beach. The water was warm. The abounding amounts of trees created a scenic view and provided shade from the scorching sun rays. Picnic tables provided a comfortable place for lunch. Life guards watched over families and kids, splashing around with wild abandon. There is a $8 admission fee for adults and $6 fee for children. Bathrooms with showers available with admission. No alcohol is allowed on the premise. Call to verify their hours-- the website says they open at 11 a.m. but the swim park didn't actually open until 1 p.m. Grab your inflatables and your best friend, then enjoy a day at Blue Springs Lake!

Closed We were disappointed…read more But came back and swam in the pool. Hope it's open tomorrow!

Lovely day to get out and about. Not too crowded for a late Sunday afternoon…read more Even for Wintertime, it's scenic enough to walk the area for some pretty views. The paved trail is clearly marked with signs to help one find bathrooms, marina, disc golf, etc. They have spaces for kids and families at the Beaver Shelt, as well as a music park section near the Eagle Landing Building. There are at least two car charging stations at the marina. There may be more around the park itself, but I did not happen to come across any.

Such a nice lake just right down the street from me. Lake of Olathe has so many things you can do…read morelike rent kayaks, splash pad for the kids, swimming area at the lake, two play area with slides, trails, fishing, frisbee throw games (don't know what it's called), waterfalls you can play in, streams you can play in, bbq areas, building for renting out weddings, etc., and so many more. It is clean, up-kept, and I always feel safe when I go alone. It would be a nice place to start having concerts, activities like Halloween hunts and things of that nature hosted here.

My daughter loved this beach. We got there as soon as it opened which was the way to go. The sand…read morewas nice and the shallow area was great for a toddler. However... One pretty major negative was the amount of goose droppings. At first we thought it was an inconsiderate dog owner but the "mess" was everywhere along the shore. Maybe we chose a bad spot on the beach but it was pretty icky. As a pay-to-go beach, I expected more.

We go every summer and it's our favorite beach spot. Were able to take our cooler with water and…read morefood for the kids which is nice to save money. I wish they had more picnic tables since people claim the few that are there for the entirety of the days. Hornets/wasps are a major issues in the bathrooms so beware! Otherwise, highly recommend.

Gorgeous Park, especially in the spring. Perfect for walking, running, hiking, biking with or…read morewithout your dogs or children. Both paved and nature trails for all levels of activities. Pretty quiet and not ever super crowded. Love this park!

Disclaimer: Rating for trails/observation tower *only*…read more A good walk or hike in some wide open green spaces will do wonders for the soul. Sure, Kansas can be limited in some of its landscape offerings, but if you don't take advantage of what's right in front of you, then you might miss the beauty that is many of our area lakes & parks. Kill Creek Park is just that beauty. There are trails of various difficulty, but none that are so strenuous that you could not do them with more than moderate effort. You can hike around a forest, around a lake, or you could just hike out in the prairie. There are multiple trails, all of which are well-marked, and they blend together at certain spots. Mountain/trail bikers might share the space at times but I have always had pleasant sharers of the paths. The trails are well-maintained with openings here & there for power to run through and the overall elevation changes are minimal. We've done the 'Outer Hank' several times and the circuit takes less than two hours. Wear your hiking shoes as some of the trails can have tricky steps and keep your eyes open to see nature in front of you. The observation tower is 3+ levels offering different views, all of which open in any direction. There is even an elevator to the top that is in service for most of the year. I suggest an evening view to the west for an optimal Kansas sunset, many of which can't be replicated. If you want mountains or beach, then you won't find it here. But if you want the peaceful, pastoral open skies of the West, then Kill Creek offers you just a taste of nature can do.

A little escape in the middle of the city. With a large lake with fishing , boat rental, swim beach…read moreand more (even scuba diving with permit) Hiking and biking trails. Disc Golf and a dog park. There is plenty of stuff for everyone. Rent a shelter and have a party, take the kids to one of the many playgrounds. Catch one of the Theater in the Park shows or go sky gazing. This park has a lot to offer.

I absolutely adore Shawnee Mission Park! It's huge- 1.6k acres and has a 120 acre lake. There is…read moreplenty of walking paths and places to park. A wonderful place to catch a gorgeous Kansas sunset, go on a walk, play sports, I've even attended a wedding rehearsal here. There's so much to do year round and it's perfect for so many occasions.

This is the pool I grew up going to, so if you're looking for a completely objective, childhood…read morememory free review, look elsewhere! This is a pretty plain Jane pool by all accounts. There are a couple diving boards, a kids slide and baby pool area and then just a large square of a pool. I love it though, it reminds me a bit of the pool in The Sandlot. They also have nice, quality beach chairs which makes a big difference when you're just laying out and lounging. It's $6 for non-residents (as of summer of 2015) and definitely worth the small price of admission. It's clean, sun-drenched and all you could ask for in a community pool.

The Fairway Pool is awesome! I checked it out this week for the first time. Since I'm a filthy…read moreMissourian I had to pay $6 cash to get in (I'm really not sure if they accept credit or debit cards), but I felt like the admission was worth it. There's not much in the way of bells and whistles at this pool - There's just the one small slide, and I think either two or three lap lanes. Even though the amenities are somewhat Spartan, the pool is extremely clean, the staff is pleasant, and the many many kids that were enjoying themselves there acted like civilized tiny people and not like horrible trolls. Shocking! This pool seems like a magnet for neighborhood teens; there's a stack of bikes right outside the entrance. If I had grown up in that area I definitely would've been here all summer. They have a very basic concession stand that sells PBJ's (how cute!) and a teeny wading pool for the tiny swimmers. There are lifeguards on staff (three or four on the afternoon I went), and the showers and bathrooms were very clean. I'll be back!

Great place to meet somebody and walk around…read more.. Very central location if you're coming from the south or from the north Biggest recommendation is figure out where you're gonna meet ahead of time so you're not driving around going as it near the tennis courts or the front or the rose garden that type of thing because it is about a mile around so there's lots of different areas to park

If I were recommending a place to visit on a beautiful Kansas City day, then Loose Park would be at…read morethe top of my list. The open greenspace, the beauty of the paths, or even the rose garden in season makes for a sensational day at the park. There are photo op spots at virtually every corner of the park. If the fountain is going in the rose garden, then it is a popular place for a bushel of pics. The swale in the middle of the park, lined with bald cypress trees, offers many shady, comfortable spots for a picnic or just a rest. String yourself up your own hammock between trees and catch a cozy nap or a comfortable spot to read. Check out the raised placards for a memorial of the Battle of Westport, emphasizing Kansas City's part during the Civil War. Everyone loves a little history, and to do so looking to the west and learning about that conflict 160+ years ago, you can actually see it in your mind's eye. To place that memorial with beautiful green space is a nod to how Kansas City makes the most of its public real estate. Park in any number of lots or even find a spot on one of the side streets. Restrooms are open in nice weather, and there's plenty of spots in which to reserve a pavilion. Outstanding Kansas City landmark!

I don't have a furry baby because 2 weeks ago I had to put my 20 year old yorkie named Guy to…read moresleep eternally. Am still grieving so I thought being in the presence of other dogs and watching how they're cared for by their parents would give me comfort and ease my pain. Even just to be approached and sniffed at would acknowledge that I have a spirit that our fur babies sense. This park is great. Back in VA where I live, we have plenty of state parks and doggie parks but not leash off doggie parks that span vast areas where dogs can run around and mingle and oh swim in the lake. There are benches along the pathway for you to sit and watch your dogs. The park has public restrooms right by the entrance/exit gates. The day that I walked the long paved pathway to get to the lake it started raining so I had to turn around and didn't get to see the lake. I will go back next time am in town. Thanks local guides for your reviews that helped me find your wonderful Shawnee dog park!

Wish I discovered this place earlier. Beautiful, huge dog park with lots of trails. About a mile…read moreroundtrip walk to the dog beach. The water was very shallow and gradual and there were tons of dogs swimming and some people. My dog loved it

This is a fun trail to hike on. Most of it is paved, although there are some off paths that are all…read moreterrain and wooded. I was not familiar with this trail so it was a little confusing to get to. Tip: you can access the trail by the tennis courts on Blue river rd. Tip 2: the bathrooms by the tennis courts were not open yet (March) and no bathrooms along the trail. Along the trail you pass lots of the park's amenities: shelter house, tennis courts, benches, playground, golf course, water, love lock bridge and more. If you do the entire hike it's about 5 miles. Parts of the path are secluded but I was with a friend and felt safe. I would recommend doing the hike with at least another person, although there were lots of people walking, running, and cycling on the trail. Good trail for all levels.

It was great hike, very long but seemed to be forever. I ended up turning around. The bridges were…read moreawesome and the lock bridge was really cool, but you just get to the red bridge and only go on it and turn around. The tennis courts seemed nice and they had basketball hoops, a park and bathrooms . You can go to the bridge and then go on the other paths. I will say there was about seven cars with older men in the parking lot in the last parking lot just sitting in there cars which was kind of interesting . Honestly for being a younger woman with her kid I probably wouldn't go back by myself again, everyone was friendly though. Also a semi parked just off the dirt/ gravel way with a car and I didn't feel comfortable going that way so I had to just turn around completely. The people do come and clean the bathrooms which is good, I didn't go in there but I saw the guy going in at one point before my walk. By the bridge there was literally trash next to the trash can so like come on my fellow walkers do better.

Heritage Park is pretty great for a variety of reasons: it's HUGE, it has tons of walking/hiking…read morepaths, it has a massive soccer complex, and honestly there is likely even more I haven't explored. It's pretty far south, so plan to drive even if you live in central JOCO like me - it's a solid 25 mins. It's convenient for me to visit when I'm out near my parent's new house though so that's a perk and has been what brings me here on occasion. A few years ago we also did soccer here and honestly I'd recommend doing soccer elsewhere. Parking is horrible and it's kind of a cluster. Overall the park itself is nice and fun to explore, but up to you on if it's worth the drive.

This is specifically regarding the Dog Park at Heritage Park: Recently renovated, so it's still a…read morelittle muddy in spots, but overall a great dog park with tons of open space for pups to run. The new paved sidewalk around the park is a nice upgrade, and there are plenty of doggy bag stations and trash cans (just wish more people would use them). There's a retention pond that dogs love to splash in, though I've heard it may be removed soon. Bathrooms are decent, and there's a water fountain for both people and pets. I also like that there's a separate, fully paved area just for dogs under 25 lbs. Most of the owners I've met here have been friendly and attentive, which makes the park feel safe and welcoming. Overall, a solid spot that keeps getting better with each update.