Parks & Recreation Summer 2025
Parks are Powerful
Parks connect communities
Powerful things happen when you enjoy parks. Neighbors become friends, new passions are discovered, families gather, and mental and physical health get a boost. Parks are more than just a few swing sets and splash pads - they're the heartbeat of thriving communities!
Parks encourage play
Play enhances positivity, no matter your age or interest. Play keeps us moving, curious, and engaged. Parks invite us to play freely—to run, climb, explore, fish, laugh and soak up the sunshine.
This summer, the Independence Parks & Recreation Department invites you to discover how powerful parks can be for your health, your family, and your community.
It's time to get out and PLAY!
Our Mission: Provide quality leisure, recreational, and educational opportunities in clean, well-maintained facilities for residents and visitors of Independence.
Popsicles in the Park
June 3: Benton Park
Entertainment: Dinosaur O'Dell
Address: 707 S. Crane St.
June 10: Glendale Park
Entertainment: Babaloo
Address: 16001 E. 32nd St.
June 17: Beckett Park
Entertainment: Drum Safari
Address: 2701 S. Cherokee St.
June 24: Country Club Park
Entertainment: Wicked Liars Comedy & Magic
Address: 2930 S. Norton Rd.
July 1: Sycamore Hills Park
Entertainment: Drum Safari
Address: 3700 S. Haden Rd.
July 8: Rotary Park 6:30pm-8pm
May-October
Every Saturday 8am-1pm
June-August
Every Wednesday 8am-1pm
Uptown Market
George Owens Nature Park
1601 Speck Rd, Independence, MO (816) 325-7115
Summer Hours
• Tuesday-Friday 8:30am-8pm
• Saturday 8:30am-5pm
• Sunday Noon-5pm
These listed programs are free to the public thanks to the Parks Improvement Sales Tax
All about migratory birds
nATuRE walk wITh a nATuralISt
SATURDAY MORNINGS
9:30AM-10:30AM
May 10, May 24 June 7, June 21
MAY 17 1pm-2pm Native Animals of Missouri May 10 3:00pm-3:30PM
George Owens Nature Park
1601 Speck Rd, Independence, MO (816) 325-7115
Dragonfly Days
July 25-26 10am-2pm
Meet up at our lakeside pavilion to catch dragonflies and learn how to identify the almost 80 species found in the Independence area.
Bug nets provided!
August 16 9:30am-1pm
A day of fishing at George Owens! Join us on our two lakes to see if you can catch some of our native fish!
Children that catch their first fish of the day will receive a fishing certificate at the weigh station!
Casting Clinic 9:30am-11:30am August 16
Water Splash Pads
Open Memorial Day to Labor Day
Monday: 12pm-8pm
Tuesday-Sunday: 8am-8pm
McCoy Park
24 Highway & N. Delaware St.
Rotary Park
Westport Rd. & 24th St.
Spray grounds are on concrete pads with splash features that spray, shoot, or mist water for kids to enjoy
Closed during inclement weather and Monday mornings for preventative maintenance or Tuesday mornings for maintenance when Monday falls on a holiday.
FishingParks Rules for Fishing
Firehouse Park
Sterling Avenue and 35th Street
• Catch and release only
• Missouri fishing license is required for those ages 16-64
• No boats on lakes or ponds
• Use lead free tackle and sinkers
• Do not release bait into our streams and lakes
• Lower fish gently into water
We want to protect all wildlife in our parks. Please help us keep them safe by picking up all trash, including fishing lines. Thank You!
Waterfall Park
Behind Bass Pro Shops
George Owens Nature Park
78 Highway and Speck Road
S˜°t˛˝o˙ˆˇ P˙ˆ˜˘
Hill
2201 S. Maywood Ave.
• 10,000 sq foot skate park
• 6 ft. and 9 ft. bowl
• Rails, stairs, and grind blocks
Santa Fe Park
2731 S. Santa Fe Rd.
Smaller concrete skate zone for all ages
Roger T. Sermon Center
Monday - Thursday: 8am-8pm
Friday - Saturday: 8am-5pm
Sunday: Closed
Memberships Available
Discount for Independence residents
Amenities
• Cardio Room
• Weight Room
• Basketball Gym
• Fitness Classes
• Pickleball Courts (available by reservation)
Fitness Classes
• Barre Above
• Barre Blast
• Extreme Boot Camp
• Noon TRX Boot Camp
• Noon Yoga
• Silver Sneakers Classic
• Silver Sneakers Yoga
• Tai Chi Chuan
• Tone & Tighten
• TRX Suspension Training
• Turbo Kick Live
• Yoga PM
• Zumba AM
• Zumba Gold
• Zumba PM
Monday-Friday: 8am-5pm
Memberships Available
Find Your Park
Beckett Park
2701 S. Cherokee St.
• Playground
Benton Park
707 S. Crane St.
• Playground
• Basketball Court
• One Practice Baseball Field
• Loop Trail: 4 laps = 1 mile
Blackburn School Park
17203 E. R.D. Mize Rd.
• Six Pickleball Courts
• One Practice Baseball Field
• Sidewalk around park: 5 laps = 1 mile
Brady Park
900 N. Delaware Ave.
• Green Space
Bund-Jack Park
1001 N. Jackson Dr.
• Playground
• Green Space
• Picnic Table
Beckett Park
Bundschu Park
11400 E. 9th St.
• Playground
• Basketball Court
• Shelter
• Green Space
• Picnic Tables
• Loop Trail
Carriage Hills Park
16841 E. 41st St.
• Loop Trail
Choplin Hood Park
15919 E. Cogan Ln.
• Playground
• One Practice Baseball Field
Cler-Mont School Park
19009 E. Susquehanna Rg.
• Playground
• Two Practice Baseball Fields
• Loop Trail: 4 laps = 1 mile
Clothier Park
17220 Medical Center Pkwy.
• Playground
• Exercise Equipment
• Picnic Tables
• Loop Trail: 3.5 laps = 1 mile
Country Club Park
2930 S. Norton Rd.
• Playground
• Half Basketball Court
• Loop Trail: 4 laps = 1 mile
Crackerneck Park
16988 E. Crackerneck Rd.
• Playground
• Shelter
• Restrooms Davis Park
221 N. Arlington Ave.
• Two Practice Baseball Fields
Fairmount Park
300 N. Home Ave.
• Playground
• Shelter
• Off-leash Dog Park
• Picnic Tables
• Grill
• Loop Trail: 4 laps = 1 mile
Dickinson Park
1700 Dickinson Rd.
• Playground
• Fishing Lake
• Shelter
• Picnic Tables
• Grill
Firehouse Park
11305 E. 36th St.
• Fishing Park
Find Your Park
George Owens Nature Park
1601 N. Speck Dr.
• Trails
• Fishing Ponds
• Fire Pit
• Picnic Tables
• Pavilions
Glendale Park
16001 E. 32nd St
• Playground
• Picnic Tables
Hill Park
2201 S. Maywood Ave.
• Playground
• 10,000 sq. ft. Skate Park
• Rock Creek
• ½ mile Walking Trail
• Picnic Tables
• Pavilion
• 12 Picnic Tables
• One Double Picnic Grill, One Single Picnic Grill
• Electrical Outlets
Hiram Young Park
110 S. Noland Rd.
• Green Space
• Loop Trail
Independence Athletic Complex
17800 E Salisbury Rd
• Two Baseball Fields
• Three Softball Fields
• Eight Soccer Fields
• Six Practice Football Fields
• Eight Picnic Tables
• Grill
• Pavilion
• Playground
• Park Amenities
• Concession Building
• Loop Trail: 1.25 miles
McCoy Park
24 Hwy & N. Delaware
• Two Playgrounds
• Picnic Tables
• Grill
• Water Splash Pad
• Horseshoe Pits
• Variety KC Baseball Field
• Loop Trail: 4 laps = 1 mile
• 1/2 mile trail: Connection to Mill Creek Park
• Tennis Courts
Mill Creek Park
1799 N. River Blvd.
• Pavilion
• Shelter
• Seven Picnic Tables
• Grill
• Restrooms
• Electrical Outlets
• Playground
• Loop Trail: 4 laps = 1 mile
• 1/2 mile trail: Connection to McCoy Park
• Three Baseball Fields
• Two Tee Ball Fields
• Six Tennis Courts
Overton Park
824 Overton Ave.
• Basketball hoop
Independence Athletic Complex
Find Your Park
Phil Roberts Park
3250 Blue Ridge Blvd.
• Walking Trail
Rotary Park
10615 E. 24th St.
• Playground
• Exercise Equipment
• Water Splash Pad
• Four Picnic Tables
• Grill
• Loop Trail: 4 laps = 1 mile
• 1/2 mile trail: Connection to
Santa Fe Trail
2900 S. Santa Fe Rd.
• Eight Picnic Tables
• Two Grills
• Restrooms
• Electrical Outlets
• Playground
• One Baseball Field
• One Softball Field
• One Tee Ball Field
• 12 Tennis Courts
• Off-leash Dog Park
• Skate Zone
Walking Trail: 1.25 miles
St Clair Park
Winner Rd & S. Farley Rd.
• Playground
Sycamore Hills Park
3700 S. Haden Rd.
• Playground
• Walking Trail
Van Hook Park
16820 E. 34th St.
Rotary Park
Soccer Fields
Waterfall Park
4501 S. Bass Pro Dr.
Eight Picnic Tables
Restrooms
Pavilion
Electrical Outlets
Playground
70 ft. Waterfall
18-acre Lake
Fishing Pier
1.25 mile loop Trail
Connection to Little Blue Trace Trail
Cornhole Boards
Young Park
405 N. Dodgion Ave.
Basketball courts
Playground
• Bundschu Park Shelter
• George Owens Pavilion
• McCoy Park Shelter
• Dickinson Park Shelter
• Fairmount Park Shelter
• George Owens Campground
• Hill Park Pavilion
• Independence Athletic Complex Pavilion
• McCoy Park Pavilion
• Mill Creek Park Pavilion
• Mill Creek Park Shelter
• Rotary Park Shelter
Celebrating Independence July 5
Summer Concert Series
Uptown Market 7pm
May 15
June 12
August 7
Fall Preview
Hummingbird
Festival
George Owens Nature Park
September 4, 5, & 6
Enchanted Forest
George Owens Nature Park
October 17, 18, 24, & 25
Santa's Village
Uptown Market
November 21
Winter Solstice
Torch Lit Hike
George Owens Nature Park
December 3
