The Playground Series: Black Hoof Park, Lenexa, KS

You know a park is doing it right when you say, "wow!" outloud and not just in your head. 

As we approached the park, Lake Lenxa came into view to the right and I definitely exclaimed, "wow!"  Since his seat is on the passenger side, Slim got the best vantage point and he was fascinated by the trees growing out of the water.  It reminded me of  where R proposed, both being less gloomy versions of Dagobah.

Photo credit: http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Dagobah

vs.

Yeah, maybe it's a stretch. 

It's a lovely sight though, aside from the electrical towers and power lines.  Forgive these blurry, not so hot pictures because I took them as we were driving away out my window.  Don't worry - it was an empty road and I was going very, very slooooowly.  The picture above is the boat launch entrance.

Speaking of hot - our visit was at the end of April on a toasty afternoon.  Expect to see some sweaty, red-faced children!

Black Hoof Park is chock-full of experiences and things to do.  There are:

• two separate playgrounds, one near the boat ramp (that we did not get to) and a second, larger play area away from the water
• the larger play area has traditional playground structures, swings, a unique sandbox, and a nature play area and play stream similar to the one at Franklin Park.
• a two mile trail around the lake, with offshoots that bring the system up to five miles.  Some of the trail is hard surface, some soft, and there is even a boardwalk.
• fishing and non-motorized boating
• wetlands, prairie, streamway, and forest preserve with outlooks to enjoy nature
• a dam, that is described in the brochure as "uniting form and function, Lake Lenexa's dam and spillway merge engineering with art.  Using innovative and cutting-edge concrete and earthwork practices, the design is an artistic representation of water cycle that features fountains, sculptures, and cascading pools.  The pedestrian bridge above the spillway offers an exclusive view of the lake and its imaginative dam and spillway design."

Photo credit: http://harringtonhomepro.com/HarringtonHomePro/Lenexa.html

Photo credit: http://harringtonhomepro.com/HarringtonHomePro/Lenexa.html

Thanks again to Harrington Home Pro for their park ratings.  I don't think Black Hoof Park had completed the larger play area at the time of their review though, because it deserves so much more than a 7!

This play structure was a little lower than the second traditional structure, but I wouldn't call either of them super toddler oriented.  Curly has been an intrepid climber since long before two, so that is no longer a concern of mine.  But I wanted to point that out.

The only reason I would attribute this as the playground for the younger set is because of the two traditionals, it's the only equipped with baby swings.

Although you can't really see it here, but Curly's hair is growing in and you can start to see curls again!  Those are some Old Navy lady large sunglasses.  Actually, they're mine.  He's swift to remove socks and shoes so he can play in the sandbox.

Only, it's not a sandbox, so much as it it's a big sandfreeformshape.

Part of the path and a glimpse of the lake through the trees.

Friends joined us at the park and we even ran into other friends there unexpectedly.

Lots on which to climb, jump on and off, and swing.

This was the higher play structure, seemingly intended for older kids.

The swings declare it so.

Be still, my once upon a time lived in the Mushroom Capital of the World heart but these toadstools are adorable!

The nature play area had rock climbing.

And logs to balance on and climb over.

The play stream, which was not on, despite the temperature, was fun to trek.

Self-explanatory

There was what I think was a homeschool event going on at the shelter, otherwise I would have taken closer pictures.  I like how you can see the lake from on high. 

We have been warned by friends, who in turn were advised by the park ranger that rattlesnakes have been found nestled on the bottom of slides.  They move them when found, but as the brochure states, "if you encounter a Timber Rattlesnake or Copperhead, carefully move away" and contact animal control with any questions.

While we didn't make down to the water or to the see the dam, I want to share Virtual Tourist user basstbn's pictures:

You can also see his blog, Frank Thompson's Kansas Journeys for a post in which he agrees on the awesomeness of Black Hoof Park, as well as picture tours of many of the amazing things and places Kansas has to offer.

Inspiring Playgrounds

I hope you like The Playground Series.  I have several blogs backlogged for the series, even if you don't!

The boys and I have been having fun exploring parks throughout Johnson County.  Does it sound like there's a "but" there?  That's sort of because there is.  It's been good to get outside and play and check out all the parks in the area, but the play equipment all starts looking the same after a while.  In fact, some of the playground structures are virtually identical, just set up in different parks.

To break the monotony and give myself some eye candy, I went on an internet search for unique playgrounds.  I'm sharing the highlights with you!

Flavorwire put together a list of 15 amazing playgrounds from all over the world.  These three really struck my fancy!

The Blue Whale in Plikta park, Gothenburg, Sweden. Designed by Monstrum.

Reenacting the story of Jonah.  Or Pinocchio.  The whale's "baleen" teeth are so clever.

The Forest of Cherry Blossoms at Moerenuma Park, Hokkaido, Japan. Designed by Isamu Noguchi. [Photos via]

Playground as modern art.  Or modern art as playground?

Woods of Net in Hakone, Japan. Designed by Toshiko Horiuchi Macadam. [Photo via]

It looks like someone yarn-bombed the park.  Beautiful.

KaBOOM!, the national nonprofit dedicated to saving play for America’s children, showcases a ton of cool playgrounds on their blog. 

They give some answers to the question, what sets a playground above the rest?

Imagination Playground is a playground in a box and lets children build their own playground structures.

It looks straight out of the minds of Tim Burton or Dr. Seuss, Landal Miggelenberg in the Netherlands is the kind of playground I wish we had more of in the United States.

The play ship at Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground invites imaginative play.  When you click through to additional pictures, there's something very reminiscent of Peter Pan and the Lost Boys about it all.

I still love playgrounds.  My guys definitely love them.  I'm not burnt out on them - that would take a lot!  I just wish for more innovation and visual appeal.  Look for my upcoming post on Black Hoof Park, a playground in the area that delivers well on the first and the location adds to the second.

The Playground Series: Franklin Park, Prairie Village, KS

Franklin Park is one of twelve parks in Prairie Village, KS.    In my post about Buffalo Meadows, I found Lenexa parks' ratings from an area construction company.  Well, they did one for Prairie Village too!  Franklin Park comes in at a 9 on their scale.  I would likely rate it even higher; it is such a fantastic park!

It is surrounded by rather fancy homes, particularly on Somerset Drive.  A review on Yelp states, "You know that you're in a posh enclave when kids making mud pies at the park are wearing white tutus and red velvet frocks."  Maybe it was the time of day that we were there, but I didn't feel like the crowd was filled with nannies, ladies who lunch, or snooty kids.  Although, I don't care how put together you are or if you drive up in your Mercedes, I just care if you pay attention to your children!

Park amenities include:

• A large pavilion equipped with electric outlets, regular sized tables and child tables, and 2 four foot serving tables at the center of the pavilion.
• Picnic tables and benches spread throughout the park.
• Play equipment separated into three distinct areas: toddler friendly, for the older kids, and swings
• A grill at each end of the pavilion.  The grills are built into stone and gorgeous.
• Exercise trail
• Baseball and soccer fields
• A sandbox filled with toys
• Nature play area and play stream
• Open space galore
• An abundance of trees that provide ample shade

One of the multitude of picnic tables.  The one in the foreground actually has seat backs for the benches, making for more comfortable picnic dining.  Pictured here is the play structure for younger kids, the pavilion, and behind that the bathroom.  You can also get a sense of how shaded the park was.  In fact, if you search for Franklin Park on Google Maps, you can't see the playground at all, for all the trees!

Turning to the left we have the two playground separated by benches and more picnic tables. The sandbox is closer to the toddler area.

And looking even further, there is the swings section.

Slim and Curly were anxious to explore more of the park after playing in the sandbox, but they needed to put their shoes back on first.

Behind and to the left of the swings, there are grassy areas.  The open space is the only part of the park that's not shaded - you can rest under a tree, but it is not the same full cover that the playground receives.

Here you can get a better sense of the intermittent trees in the open area.  I love how some are all in a row.

The boys' favorite feature was the tire swing!

Just some more angles on the older kid portion of the playground.

The most unique aspect of the park is the nature play area and play stream.  The water was not on, but it made for a great place to explore and Slim called it an obstacle course.  I'm not certain, but I believe the stream operates in warmer weather, perhaps starting around Memorial Day.  Do any Johnson County residents have insight on this?

The dry stream bed.

Behind Slim and the nature play area, you can see part of the curved wall foot path entrance to the park.

Curly caught mid-jump!

To the right is part of the walking/running/biking trail.

Roomy kid tables.

One of the two grills.

In the background is the second of the grills.  In the foreground is one of the serving tables in the pavilion.

Bathrooms. 

The trail map.

Franklin Park has a lot going for it and although it was our first time, I'd consider it one of my favorites.