To reduce the spread of coronavirus, a mask order is in effect as of July 12, 2020. A mask is strongly encourages outside when unable to maintain social distancing. Please enjoy the park responsibly by spreading out. The Westport-Roanoke Community Center remains closed. Here are KCMO Parks Dept. COVID-19 Updates and the latest KCMO COVID-19 updates from the city. To avoid damaging trails, check Trail Status before biking or hiking off road. ("Rozarks" = Roanoke Park's 2.5 miles plus Rosedale's 3.5 miles.)

New tennis courts are on the way. Click for more pictures.

Roanoke Park Continues to Benefit from Public Infrastructure Advisory Committee Funds

Since it was founded the Roanoke Park Conservancy has worked with the parks department to seek PIAC funding for improvements throughout the park with great success. These requests have aligned with the 2011 Master Plan, and benefited from the strong support of nearby neighborhoods. The focus of the past few years has been improving the "south meadow," the lobe of the park southwest of the community center. These improvements include: renewing the tennis courts, new sidewalks, additional lighting, and entry pillars and signage.

The south meadow shows the results and more are on the way! Hopeful signs of good days after we make it through together.

Currently funded PIAC improvements will add to the already completed work within Roanoke Park’s south meadow: the 2014 playground replacement, the new sidewalk and lighting along the north side, the winding ADA sidewalk between the tennis courts / playground and the west entrance, and replacing the handrails on the north staircase. In 2018 we requested solving the erosion problems and shortcut paths along the winding sidewalk with durable flagstone paving, and entrance pillars / lighting at the southwest entrance. Those projects are winding their way through the process and may come to fruition later in 2020.

Most dramatically, this summer and fall you can expect to see the fruits of earlier PIAC requests in the form of NEW TENNIS COURTS. Yes, they will also be striped for PICKLEBALL. The purchase order for the tennis court contractor has been approved and pending any unforeseen delays (which there are a lot of these days) work should proceed in the months ahead!

In 2019, another master plan aligned request was made to continue the momentum: we hope to add amenities to the tennis court / playground area including: a naturalistic water play area as well as adult and family play areas next to the soon to be rehabilitated tennis courts. A future option is a new slide for the playground coming down through the trees next to the north staircase.

Click the images below to view pdf documents of the 2019 request. Unfortunately we have learned that the below request was not approved. We will reformulate it to refine the plans and TRY AGAIN next year.

In memory of Judy Widener, founder of Dance in the Park

Judy Widener memorial tree. Click for a gallery of images.

A native serviceberry memorial tree was planted in the spring of 2018 by the parks department within view of the current location of Dance in the Park. Enjoy the blooms it has in spring and its elegance in all seasons, and give thanks for neighbors who add beauty and life to the park. A multi-trunked serviceberry was chosen for it's delicate features. Can a tree dance?

(2018's drought conditions haven't been kind to this new tree but we believe it will bounce back.)

Here's a memorial page from Bridging the Gap with more information about Judy. 

Roanoke Park is an important historical Kansas City asset. Its value is greatest to its closest residents. Time and neglect have taken a toll on our neighborhood park. The wooded ravines have lost important trees and the rugged cliffs have become hidden by invasive plants. The park's beauty has become marred. Comparing old photos with more recent ones confirms that the park is not as enticing as it once was.

Even when Kansas City was not in such dire financial straits, city resources for the park have been sparse. Many neighborhood parks are being recognized for their value as neighborhood assets and sanctuaries of peacefulness in urban areas. This trend is sweeping the nation and the globe as neighborhood groups join together to support local parks that have suffered from urban decay and government neglect.

Our efforts on behalf of Roanoke Park are a public/private partnership initiative to honor the history and plant the future of Roanoke Park. We do this for the betterment of our city, and especially the neighborhoods that share Roanoke Park.