23 Toddler-Friendly Parks in the Kansas City (Kansas) Metro
Exploring parks safely with toddlers involves a few key considerations. Fortunately, these parks on the Kansas side of the Kansas City metro area have earned my approval for being toddler-friendly (ages 1-4), while some also offer fun for older kids. Here are 23 parks that are great for your little explorers!
Toddler-Friendly Parks in Kansas City (Kansas)
Antioch Park, Merriam
Address: 6501 Antioch Rd. Merriam, KS
Features: Antioch Park offers a mini Dodge town, train play sets, a toddler appropriate playset, swings, walking trails, and a large pond to walk around. Lots of grassy space to run or have a picnic.Restrooms (oftentimes locked), water fountains, tables, and parking spaces available
Arthur & Betty Verhaeghe Park, Overland Park
Address: 11401 W 167th St. Overland Park, KS
Features: Verhaeghe Park offers a farm-themed playset and a tractor to climb on and inside. There are swings and a lot of grassy space to run around.Paved parking and portable potty available
Black Hoof Park, Lenexa
Address: 9053 Monticello Rd. Lenexa, KS
Features: Black Hoof Park features a toddler playset with mini monkey bars, nature play areas, a water stream and sand pit to play in, and scenic walking trails, perfect for strollers. This is a mulched playground.Restrooms, water fountains, tables, and parking spaces available
Bluejacket Park, Overland Park
Address: 10101 Bond St. Overland Park, KS
Features: Bluejacket Park includes a toddler playset and swings. This park has a lot of grassy space to play and is next to the Bluejacket Pool.Parking spaces available (The pool next to the park has restrooms and water fountains.)
College Boulevard Activity Center, Olathe
Address: 11031 S Valley Rd. Olathe, KS
Features: College Boulevard Activity Center is an inclusive baseball-themed playground with a semi-fenced play area, designed to accommodate children of all abilities and ages. There are great ramps to access the top of the play set and we love this park for play dates. We never seem to go when the restrooms are unlocked though.Restrooms (oftentimes locked), water fountains, tables, and parking spaces available
Photos: 1-2, Antioch Park; 3-4 Bluejacket Park; 5-6 College Boulevard Activity Center; 7-8 Black Hoof Park
6. Fairview Park, Olathe
Address: 400 N Walnut St. Olathe, KS
Features: Fairview Park in Olathe features toddler swings and a space-themed play area. This park gets decent shade and has a basketball court nearby.
Limited parking and tables available
7. Franklin Park, Prairie Village
Address: Roe Ave & Somerset Dr. Prairie Village, KS
Features: Franklin Park offers a sand pit, water stream and nature play area, pirate ship-themed play structure, ride-on toys, and toddler swings. This is a mulched playground.
Restrooms, water fountains, tables, and parking spaces available
8. Frisco Lake Park, Olathe
Address: 1100 E Dennis Ave. Olathe, KS
Features: Frisco Lake Park boasts ride-on toys, a nature-themed play area, and scenic walking trails, providing a blend of play and outdoor exploration.
Portable potty, water fountain, tables, parking available
9. Gum Springs Park, Shawnee
Address: 6621 Garnett Ct. Shawnee, KS
Features: Gum Springs Park features a mini rope course, toddler swings, and a merry-go-round, offering varied activities for young children. This park gets decent morning shade. *Note: the hot air balloon feature is not toddler-friendly
Restrooms, water fountains, tables, and parking spaces available
10. Leawood City Park, Leawood
Address: 10601 Lee Blvd. Leawood, KS
Features: Leawood City Park is a fenced inclusive playground with a parent/toddler swing and accessible play structures. It has a nice toddler play set and great grassy fields nearby to play.
Restrooms, water fountains, tables, and parking spaces available
Photos: 1-2, Leawood City Park'; 3-4 Gum Springs Park; 5-6 Fairview Park; 7-8 Franklin Park
11. Little Mill Creek North Park, Lenexa
Address: W 79th St & Cottonwood St. Lenexa, KS
Features: Little Mill Creek North Park in Lenexa features a toddler playset with a built-in car track on the equipment (bring your Hot Wheels!), swings, and a tall play set with big slides (not super toddler friendly). This is a mulched playground.
Restrooms, water fountains, tables, and parking spaces available
12. Meadowbrook Park Inclusive Playground, Prairie Village
Address: 9100 Roe Ave (Shelter 4) Prairie Village, KS
Features: Meadowbrook Park features multiple playgrounds, but the Inclusive Playground near Shelter 4 is fenced and features a merry-go-round, toddler playset, and ample space to play. This is an ideal play date playground! It does not get a lot of shade so morning or evenings are best.
Restrooms, water fountains, tables, and parking spaces available
13. Neale Peterson Park, Fairway
Address: 6030 Cherokee Dr. Fairway, KS
Features: Neale Peterson Park (also known as Fairway Park) offers a fire truck and market playset, along with toddler swings. It is located next to the Fairway Pool.
Tables and street parking available (The pool next to the park has paved parking, restrooms, and water fountains.)
14. Olathe Community Center
Address: 1205 E Kansas City Rd, Olathe, KS
Features: This indoor community center in Olathe has a free toddler play set when you enter the main doors! It is free to use but if you decide to explore the pool or other features of the community center you can pay at the front desk. This is a small play space but great for super hot or cold days.
Restrooms, water fountains, and parking spaces available
15. Roe Park, Overland Park, KS
Address: 10400 Roe Ave. Overland Park, KS
Features: Roe Park in Overland Park is a great park with a large splash pad, toddler playset with a built-in car track, swings, and a nature play area. We love this park but it can get busy!
Restrooms, water fountains, tables, and parking spaces available
Photos: 1, Little Mill Creek North Park; 2-3 Meadowbrook Inclusive Playground; 4-5 Neale Peterson Park; 6-7 Olathe Community Center; 8, Roe Park
16. Shawnee Mission Inclusive Park, Shawnee
Address: 7900 Renner Rd. Shawnee, KS
Features: Shawnee Mission Inclusive Park is a colorful inclusive, fenced-in playground featuring musical instruments, a toddler appropriate play set, swings, a ride on Sway Fun, and lots of space to play. Walking trails are nearby and are great for stroller walks.
Restrooms (April-September), water fountains, tables, and parking spaces available
17. Stilwell Community Park, Stilwell
Address: 6402 W 207th St. Stilwell, KS
Features: Stilwell Community Park is an inclusive, fenced playground with toddler swings, musical instruments, and an in-ground merry-go-round. There’s a lot of space to play and the big slide is a toddler favorite (but fast)! The main play set is very tall and is not quite as toddler-friendly. This park has zero shade so plan accordingly.
Restrooms, water fountain, tables, and parking spaces available
18. Strang Park, Overland Park
Address: W 89th St & Farley St. Overland Park, KS
Features: Strang Park in Overland Park features toddler swings, a toddler market play set, all within a fenced play space. This park can get busy but it’s a great all-ages park.
Restrooms, water fountains, tables, and parking spaces available. The Central Resource Library is located next to this park.
19. Thompson Park, Overland Park
Address: 8045 Santa Fe Dr, Overland Park, KS
Features: Thompson Park in Overland Park features a small splash pad, toddler swing, turf-covered tunnel, and toddler-sized slide. This park gets decent shade and the splash pad is the perfect size for littles.
Restrooms, water fountains, tables, and parking spaces available
20. Taliaferro Park, Prairie Village
Address: 2900 W 79th St. Prairie Village, KS
Features: Taliaferro Park in Prairie Village includes a toddler playset with a race car track, nature play areas, and sand diggers for hands-on fun. This park has a lot of mulch and gets decent shade. It also has a short walking trail that is great for strollers.
Restrooms, water fountains, tables, and parking spaces available
21. Veterans Memorial Park, Gardner
Address: 121 W. Pawnee Ln. Gardner, KS
Features: Veterans Memorial Park is a fenced and inclusive park. It features an adorable toddler-sized playhouse and a toddler-accessible play set. There is also a fenced-in section for the swings.
Restrooms (April-September), tables, and parking spaces available
Photos: 1-2, Shawnee Mission Inclusive Playground; 3-5, Stilwell Community Park; 6-7 Strang Park; 8-9, Taliafero Park; 10-12, Veteran’s Memorial Park; 13-14, Wassmer Park; 15-16, Thompson Park
22. Wassmer Park, Prairie Village
Address: 6700 Roe Ave. Prairie Village, KS
Features: Wassmer Park offers a toddler and parent swing, toddler swing, a hillside slide, and a play set. This park does not have restrooms but it’s a hidden gem.
Paved parking and tables available
23. Wyandotte County Lake Playground, Kansas City, KS
Address: Leavenworth Rd & N 91st St. Kansas City, KS
Features: Wyandotte County Lake Playground features a large play area with ramp access on one section and a toddler-sized climber. There is a big kid play set here too. This park has mulch covering and is semi-fenced.
Restrooms (oftentimes locked), water fountains, tables, and parking spaces available
These are some of our favorite toddler-friendly parks throughout the Kansas City metro on the Kansas side! Shoutout to Jana, @adventuresinmomlife_, for collaborating with me on an initial list of 15 toddler-friendly Kansas City, KS metro parks. Kansas City is split between Kansas and Missouri, so check out my list of Toddler-Friendly Parks in Kansas City (Missouri) coming soon!
Looking for more great Kansas City metro parks? Check out my Ultimate Guide to Kansas City Metro Splash Parks!
6/24/24 - Gabrielle Isom
