KC Activity #3 – Loose Park
5200 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO 64112
Cost: Free
Features: Tennis courts, running path, playground, rose garden
Good for: Families, runners, history buffs, dog lovers
Pro Tip: Bring a hammock. Loose has tons of trees, perfect for a relaxing day.
By the numbers:
- 75 acres
- 2.5 mile running/walking path
- 4 tennis courts
- 4,000 roses
Fun fact – Loose Park is the site of a major Civil War battle – the Battle of Westport. Union soldiers forced the Confederates to where the park is now located. Today, there are plaques and even a Civil War-era cannon to commemorate the fight.
Right off the Country Club Plaza, Loose is good place to walk off that piece of salted caramel cheesecake you couldn’t resist at the Cheesecake Factory. It’s Kansas City’s third largest park, and always filled with runners, dog walkers, slack liners, sunbathers and frisbee players. I frequent Loose to run or hang out with friends while they’re walking their dogs (Hiiii Karlee and Cora).
One of my favorite parts of the park is the rose garden. In 1931, a group established the Kansas City Rose Society, and created their first garden with 120 rose plants. Today, the Loose Park Rose Garden has about 4,000 roses in the 1.5 acre garden. The garden is always gorgeous, even when it’s not in bloom.
I am always so surprised by how many people bring their hammocks to Loose. There’s always clusters of hammocks in the trees, and I get so jealous every time. Need a hammock asap. xx, Libbie.