Swope Park, Kansas City
Much more than an ordinary city park, Swope offers entertainment and activities to entice every traveler to Kansas City.
Those who travel to Kansas City may come for the shopping, sports, and music, but they would do themselves a great disservice to skip out on the city’s excellent parks. Swope Park, the largest in the city, and one of the largest city parks in the United States is a must-visit Kansas City location, offering loads of activities and entertainment to suit every sort of visitor.
One will find far more than park benches and paths in Swope Park. At more than 1,800 acres, this park is able to pack in the Kansas City Zoo, the Starlight Theater, the Swope Memorial Golf Course, and more, with room to spare for wide-open spaces and wooded enclaves.
Lakeside Nature Center and the Kansas City Zoo
A perfect choice for respite from the city hustle and bustle, Swope Park offers a number of natural wonders for visitors looking for an earthy experience. The park features miles of scenic walking and biking trails, community gardens, and the Lakeside Nature Center. Lakeside, a nature preserve featuring wildlife exhibits and educational programs for the whole family, also serves as one of the largest rehabilitation centers for wildlife in the state.
And, of course, for some nature that falls on the wild side, visitors to Swope Park can head over to the Kansas City Zoo. This top-notch zoo covers more than 200 acres with fantastic animal habitats, fun exhibits, and educational shows.
Taking in a show at the Starlight Theater
Those looking for a bit of excitement on a warm Kansas City evening are sure to find it at one of the city’s most popular and beloved venues, the Starlight Theater, also located inside Swope Park. National Broadway tours and major concerts come to the Starlight stage, which is open-air, making taking in a show at the Starlight Theater a perfect summer night experience.
The Battle of Westport
Civil War buffs will want to stop at the Battle of Westport Visitor Center and Museum, located within the park. The Battle of Westport was the largest Civil War battle fought this side of the Mississippi, and visitors can take in key sites of the battle throughout Kansas City. In addition to providing information on this violent part of the city’s past, the Center also gives info on how to take self-guided tours of the relevant sites.
Swope Park for Athletics
Visitors looking for a place to get active will certainly find an outlet at Swope Park. Tennis courts, baseball diamonds, soccer and even cricket fields populate the park, not to mention wide open spaces for simply tossing a Frisbee or playing catch. Golfers will love the historic links of Swope Memorial, a golf course that was home to the PGA Tour’s Kansas City Open in the 1940s, and has seen many an illustrious player on its greens. The park also contains the training facilities for the Kansas City Wizards, the city’s professional soccer team.
To learn more about the park and all of its offerings, visit Swope Park online before your next trip to Kansas City.
