Terry Rynard grew up walking to Chouteau Elementary through a Kansas City park called Buckeye Greenway every day. It was a dream for a young kid with too much curiosity, energy and house key on a piece of yarn around her neck. She was fortunate to have Parks and Recreation leaders stay after school a […]
First fifteen years, Learning the Ropes I came to Kansas City, Missouri in the spring of 1974 and started my career as a Municipal Management Trainee in the Parks and Recreation Department. I was hired by Jerry Darter, Park Superintendent and Frank Vaydik was the Director. I worked as a crew leader mowing grass, cleaning […]
KC Parks Director Mark McHenry is calling it a career after 44 years with the City of Kansas City, Missouri’s Parks and Recreation Department. McHenry will retire at the end of 2018, and Deputy Director Terry Rynard will become director on January 1, 2019. Highlights of McHenry’s career include adding 34 parks, building six more […]
KC Parks and the City of Fountains Foundation are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the end of the war by placing temporary markers at many of the local monuments and memorials dedicated to the fallen and veterans of the “war to end all wars”. On September 12 at 11 a.m., officials will gather to place the […]
Brush Creek Art Walk is a three day outdoor (en plein air) painting event that runs this Friday-Sunday (9/14-16/18) along a 4-mile stretch of Brush Creek. This event is free and open to the public to observe. For a $35 registration fee, artists have the opportunity to participate in ALL three Quick Paint Events and […]
KC Parks was recently awarded $115,000 from the Greater Kansas City Health Care Foundation to support our efforts in “Life X,” a place-based approach to mobilizing residents living in zip codes 64126, 64127, 64128, 64129, 64130, and 64132. In these zip codes, 94% of residents live below the Federal Poverty Level and life expectancy rates […]
Open Spaces is a citywide, family-friendly arts festival with Swope Park as its hub. For nine weeks, August 25-October 28, Kansas City transforms into a center of artistic expression filled with performances, art installations, food, music, and more. Join Mayor Sly James and Open Spaces Founder Scott Francis as they declare Open Spaces officially open […]
Sam Lacey, a distinguished citizen of Kansas City, Missouri, who passed away in 2014 was honored on August 18 at the Gregg Klice Community Center when a plaque was in his honor was unveiled and permanently placed in the GKCC gymnasium. The former NBA Basketball Player made Kansas City his home after his career ended. […]
DOG SWIM PARTIES TAKE PLACE RAIN OR SHINE! #AWetDogIsAWetDog KC Parks invites you and your best friend to close out the season at one (or both) of our water parks! NORTH KC Saturday, September 8, 2018 (THREE SESSIONS) The Springs Aquatic Center, 9400 N. Congress Ave. 10 a.m.-Noon: Small (under 40 lbs) and Senior Dogs Noon-2 p.m.: Large Dogs-Session 1 (40 […]
This year, during Park and Recreation Month we focused on our employees by featuring a #PlayerOfTheDay each day of July. #DiscoverJuly #KCParks #WhereKCPlays Here’s the recap video!
August 9, 2018 . . . The Gillham Sprayground opened today with lots of happy faces and colorful beach balls! Located south of the play ground in Gillham Park, 41st & Gillham/Kenwood, Midtown’s newest sprayground features a combination of sprayers, bubblers and custom water elements, a shade structure, synthetic turf berm, benches and tables. The $740,000 […]
West Terrace Park is home to three Art in the Loop installations this summer. Learn more about the artists who created Busy Bead Maze in this article by Rachel Love. The creators of Busy Bead Maze, a large-scale outdoor installation evoking nostalgia for those recognizable fixtures in pediatrician’s offices, are a trio of current Kansas City Art Institute students: Michael Elwood, Annelise […]