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Overland Park is the second-largest city in Kansas, a prosperous suburb on the south side of the Kansas City metro. It was laid out in the early 1900s by William Strang Jr., who named it for the overland wagon trails that once crossed the area and ran a streetcar line to bring buyers from Kansas City. For decades it stayed a quiet farm town, then grew rapidly after the Second World War into one of the fastest-growing cities in the region.
Today Overland Park has about 200,000 residents and is home to the headquarters of several large companies, along the busy College Boulevard and I-435 corridor. Its historic downtown, on Santa Fe Drive around the old clock tower, keeps a small-town feel with local shops, restaurants and a popular Saturday farmers market that has run since the 1980s.
Green space is a big part of the city's appeal. The Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens covers more than 300 acres of trails, gardens and woodland along Wolf Creek, and Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead lets families meet farm animals and see a recreated 1900s farm. A long network of streamside trails links the city's parks, and downtown Kansas City, with its barbecue, jazz and museums, is about a 20-minute drive north.
Downtown Overland Park is the city's historic center around Santa Fe Drive, with locally owned shops, restaurants, cafes and bars in low brick buildings. The Clock Tower Plaza is its gathering place for markets and events. Street parking is free, and the area is easy to explore on foot.
The Overland Park Farmers Market is one of the largest farmers markets in the Kansas City area, held at the Clock Tower Plaza in downtown Overland Park. Local growers sell produce, flowers, honey and baked goods on Wednesday and Saturday mornings in season. Arrive early for the best choices.
The Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens covers about 300 acres in the south of the city, with themed gardens, a sculpture garden, a water garden and miles of trails through woods and prairie along Wolf Creek. Spring and fall are the best seasons. A small admission fee applies.
The Indian Creek Trail is a long paved trail that follows Indian Creek across Overland Park, linking parks and neighborhoods and continuing toward Kansas City, Missouri. It is popular with cyclists, runners and walkers. Shaded stretches along the creek make it pleasant on warm days.
Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead is a city farm for families with goats, cows, horses, pigs and chickens. Children can bottle-feed baby goats, fish in a pond, visit a one-room schoolhouse and ride ponies. It is open from spring through fall, and weekday mornings are the least crowded.
The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art on the Johnson County Community College campus shows contemporary paintings, sculpture, photography and installations by regional and international artists. Admission is free, and outdoor sculptures are placed around the campus. Allow about an hour.
The Johnson County Museum in the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center tells the story of the county and American suburban life. Its main exhibit includes the 1954 All-Electric House, a model home showing modern living in the 1950s. There is also a hands-on play area for young children.
Oak Park Mall is one of the largest shopping malls in the Kansas City area, with department stores, around 180 shops and a food court. It is an easy indoor stop in hot or cold weather. Parking is free, and the mall is busiest on weekend afternoons and during the holiday season.
Prairiefire is a mixed-use district in south Overland Park with restaurants, shops, a cinema, apartments and a central plaza with water and fire features. It hosts outdoor events and live music in warm months. Visit in the evening when the fire features light up the plaza.
The Overland Park Convention Center is a large modern event venue that hosts trade shows, conventions, sports events and community fairs. It is connected to a hotel and close to many restaurants along College Boulevard. Check the event calendar, as public shows run on many weekends.
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Photo: OverlandParkCC, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
