Plentiful Recreation and Entertainment
Lively retail communities, beautiful parkland, water features and public art provide something for everybody to enjoy in Leawood. The areas bounded by 119th Street, Roe and Nall Avenues, and 117th Street have become destination central in Leawood. Some of the best spots in the Kansas City area to shop, catch a bite, meet up with friends, and stroll around can be found in Leawood’s shopping centers.
Activities Year Round - Attend an Event
In addition to shopping and soaking up the natural surroundings, the City of Leawood and local shopping districts host a wide variety of events throughout the year, including a series of live concerts, plays and music festivals at places like Ironwoods Park Lodge and Amphitheater, Mission Farms, Park Place, Town Center Crossing and Town Center Plaza. Barkley Square in Park Place is also home of Johnson County’s only outdoor ice-skating rink (The Ice), for a fun and leisurely winter outing.
The Leawood Parks and Recreation Department holds many family and community oriented events, including the annual Eggstravaganza, Fall Festival, Holiday Lighting, July 4th Celebration, Labor Day Run, Breakfast with Santa, Daddy & Daughter Date Night, Community Theater and monthly senior luncheons.
Hungry? Then don’t miss ‘A Taste of Leawood’, presented by the Leawood Chamber! For more than 20 summers the event has been a popular showcase for Leawood’s finest area restaurants. This festive evening has helped brand Leawood as one of the region’s premier dining destinations. Located on the north side of Town Center Plaza, the event is held every September and attracts nearly 1,500 attendees. For more information about the event, visit the A Taste of Leawood page.
Nature
Sure, there’s plenty to do in the city, but when you need a breath of fresh air or a moment of peace and quiet, these areas are easily accessible.
Tomahawk Creek Greenway
The Tomahawk Creek Greenway is a perfect place to exercise while taking in a peaceful afternoon in the woods. Walk, jog, bicycle or rollerblade down the trail as it winds along Tomahawk and Indian Creeks. Or you can stop to fish at any of the three lakes stocked with channel catfish, green sunfish and largemouth bass. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks stock it every month between April and September.
Prairie Oak Nature Center at Ironwoods Park
This center provides fun, educational programs for all ages. Visitors can check out the exhibits, stop by the library, walk through the garden and discover all of the habitats along the two-mile walking trail.
Parks
Ok, so maybe there’s more to do than just ‘stroll’ our 486 acres of parkland. Read on to find out which park sounds best for you and your day.
Ironwoods Park, 147th and Mission
At Ironwoods Park, check out the Prairie Oak Nature Center and the Lodge. There you’ll find a meeting/banquet center complete with seating for 300+, a commercial kitchen and audiovisual amenities. There’s also a challenge course, the Oxford School House, a beautiful walking trail, playground equipment and an amphitheater for shows or concerts. And if you can’t fit all of that in one day, stay overnight. There are cabins complete with bathhouse access.
I-Lan Park, 126th and Nall
This 10-acre park is dedicated to Leawood’s sister city I-Lan, Taiwan. It’s a replica of traditional Taiwanese gardens featuring a sheltered pavilion, a trail connecting with Leawood’s trail system, a playground, public art and a pagoda.
Gezer Park, located at 133rd and Mission Road
Gezer Park is Leawood’s other sister city– The Gezer Region in Israel. It includes two shelters built with stone harvested in Israel. One of these shelters is “open-air”, reflecting the shelter in the Pinat Shorashim Park in Gezer. There’s also an aromatic Havdalah garden, two pieces of public art, a celebratory fire pit, restroom, a play site and much more!
Tomahawk Park, 119th between Mission and Tomahawk Creek Parkway
This little park is less than 4 acres. It includes a shelter, playground, and a baseball field adjacent to an open play space and Tomahawk Trail.
City Park
With 66 acres, this park is the hub of Leawood’s recreational activities. Residents take part in formal and informal sports programs that utilize the park’s soccer fields, lighted tennis courts, youth baseball fields and basketball and sand volleyball courts. The park’s shelters have grills popular through the spring and fall seasons. There’s also a loop-jogging trail, which serves as a trailhead for the main path along the Tomahawk Greenway Trail. After a run, take a dip at The Aquatic Center. It features a zero-depth pool, a 145-foot water slide, baby pool with water toys, fountains and a Sprayground.
Our furry canine friends also have a new place to play on the far eastern side of City Park, just over the bridge. Leawoof Off-Leash Dog Park opened in October 2014 and provides ample room for dogs of all sizes (and their people) to romp and play. The off-leash areas provide two fenced-in play areas (one for small dogs, less than 25 pounds) and one for large dogs (more than 25 pounds) where dogs can exercise in a clean, safe environment under supervision of people who wish to enjoy interaction with their pets and other dog owners. See our Dog Park Page for rules and regulations before you visit and make your dog’s day.
Golf
Try out Ironhorse Golf Club – it’s a favorite among golf lovers. This par 72 upscale public golf course is situated on 189 wooded acres and features an 18-hole championship course, with a layout enhanced by natural waterways and prairie grasslands, supported by an extensive practice facility. Other top golf spots in Leawood are Hallbrook Country Club and The Country Club of Leawood.
Shopping & Restaurants
Every great city can brag about its restaurants and shopping areas – Leawood is no exception. From the casual to the formal, some of Leawood’s premier restaurants and shops are located in shopping centers throughout the community.
Town Center Plaza is one of Leawood resident’s favorites places to go. Here, you can choose from 10 area restaurants, shop at over 90 retail stores, and take in a movie at the AMC Theatres.
Town Center Crossing is an outdoor lifestyle center. It features dining and shopping establishments unique to the KC Metro area. The urban style developments offer mixed-use residential areas, restaurants, retail shopping, and office space.
Mission Farms, located at 107th and Mission Road, this area consists of upscale residential living above charming boutiques and restaurants.
Park Place, another mixed-use community, is located in the heart of Leawood and includes a new hotel destination– Aloft Leawood-Overland Park. This hotel is unique to the Kansas City metropolitan market the first hotel to open in Leawood, and offers a contemporary, sophisticated place to stay for the traveler on the go.
Another mixed-use community gaining popularity on the boundary of Leawood and Overland Park, is Prairiefire. This exciting new development invites you to shop, dine, catch a movie, bowl or play bocce ball. You can also enjoy a walk along the Wetlands at Prairiefire nature trail that celebrates the nature and biology of Kansas. The adjacent Museum at Prairiefire features world-class architecture and exhibitions from the American Museum of Natural History. From dinosaurs, to the ancient seas, to the wonders of Space, you’ll immerse yourself in the magic of natural history and science.