Age-friendly parks serve residents of all abilities

KC Communities for All Ages is a MARC initiative that helps cities and counties in our region become more age friendly. The group included staff from Basehor, Bonner Springs, Excelsior Springs, Harrisonville, Mission, Parkville, Raymore and Roeland Park. 

Starting at R Park in Roeland Park, Kansas, the group heard from resident and park champion Gretchen Davis about the process of developing the park property, which was the site of a former elementary school. Roeland Park is a gold-level Community for All Ages. The program helped facilitate a process in 2017 that brought together city staff, residents and experts on universal design to plan a park that would be accessible for all ages and abilities. With the final phase completed in the spring, R Park now boasts accessible playground equipment, a "traffic garden" that helps children learn about traffic rules, a pavilion and other features.

The group also toured the recently renovated Mohawk Park in Mission, Kansas. Mission completed renovations to the park in the summer, adding a new pavilion, public restrooms, sidewalk connections to park trails, a relocated parking lot and other features. Mohawk is the largest park in Mission, and the changes provide added connectivity to the neighborhoods it serves, as well increased accessibility for all age groups.