Swope Park
Swope Park located in the heart of Kansas City is one of the largest parks in the United States. Larger than New York City’s Central Park, Swope Park has a total of 1,805 acres and is named after Colonel Thomas H. Swope who donated the land to the city in 1896.
Swope Park is more than just a park, it features many venues and is home to many festivals making it one of Kansas City’s most cherished areas. Inside the park you will find Starlight Theatre, an 8,000 seat outdoor theater home to many concerts and events. It also features the training grounds for Sports Kansas city and their team named the Swope Park Rangers as well as Kansas City Zoo. There are also ten shelter houses, baseball fields, soccer fields, swimming pool, and Frisbee golf course open for public use and recreational teams.
Swope Memorial Golf Course is also located inside Swope Park, once hosting the Kansas City Open Invitational, part of the PGA Tour. Lakeside Nature Center can be found inside Swope Park. It is an environmental educational center that is one of Missouri’s largest native species rehabilitation facilities. Although it contains many features, the majority of the park is heavily wooded and remains undeveloped.
