Visit Jacob L. Loose Park
Located at 5200 Wornall Rd., this tranquil garden sprawls across 75 acres and features a romantic pond where wildlife flocks at in the summer months. Complete with tennis courts and a rose garden, it’s the perfect escape into paradise close to the heart of KCMO. Open daily from 5 a.m. – midnight, it’s one of the most popular parks in the area with a rich history. It’s where the Battle of Westport took place and Confederate soldiers were re-routed by the Union forces.
The owner at the time of the battle was William Bent. However, the property was sold in 1871 and a group of local members of a golf club turned the space into a golf course that cost just $1 per year. It remained a golf course until 1927 when Ella Loose purchased the property to honor her late husband, Jacob. One year later, it was gifted to the city. Jacob Loose was the founder of the Loose-Wiles Biscuit Company.
A History of Greatness
In 1931, the municipal rose garden was planted by the Kansas City Rose Society. What started as 120 rose bushes has grown into over 4,000 with 168 varieties filling a 1.5 acre space. A recent $400,000 renovation of the rose garden included 1,200 new plantings and restoration of existing beds to mimic the original plans.
At the park, you’ll find trails to explore, shelters for picnics, and interpretive signs (particularly in the rose garden). Come see a different side of KCMO’s beauty.
