Q: Which Parks and Facilities are managed by Johnson County Park and Recreation District?

A: The following are all of parks and facilities managed by JCPRD: Antioch Park, Athletic Training Center, Big Bull Creek Park (future), Ernie Miller Park and Nature Center, Johnson County Girls Athletic Complex, Heritage Park, Heritage Park Golf Course, Kill Creek Park and Streamway, Mid-America Sports Complex, Oakridge Farm Stables, Mid-America West Sports Complex Fieldhouse, Roeland Park Aquatic Center, Roeland Park Dome, Shawnee Mission Park, Stanley Nature Park, Streamway Parks (Mill Creek, Turkey Creek, Bull Creek, Kill Creek), Thomas S. Stoll Memorial Park, Sunflower Nature Park, The Theatre in the Park, TimberRidge Adventure Center, Tomahawk Dome, and Tomahawk Hills Golf Course.

To link to addition information on each site, simply click on the name.

Q: Do you have to be a Johnson County resident to participate in Johnson County Park and Recreation District programs?

A: No. JCPRD programs are open to anyone regardless of residency. However, because employee benefits for planning staff are partially supported by property taxes, fees for residents are approximately 10 percent lower than for non-residents for most recreation programs. Exceptions where fees are the same regardless of residency are: special events, travel programs, leagues, golf tournaments, The Theatre in the Park admission, Ernie Miller Nature Center Amphitheater programs. Fees for facility-related activities, including shelter rentals and fishing licenses, also reflect property tax support through slightly higher fees for nonresidents.

Q: Do you have to live in Johnson County to work for JCPRD?

A: No. Many of our dedicated employees serve their fellow citizens of Johnson County. Other dedicated employees travel from their home counties, to serve Johnson County residents. Staff hail from the following counties in Kansas: Johnson, Linn, Leavenworth, Douglas, Wyandotte, and Miami. Staff from Missouri live in these counties: Nodaway, Cass, Jackson, and Platte. If you are interested in employment with JCPRD, click here.

Q: Why does the Johnson County Park and Recreation District's ACTIVITIES catalog list two different prices for most programs and classes?

A: Under a new fee structure which took effect with the Winter 2002 ACTIVITIES catalog, Fees for Johnson County residents are discounted by approximately 10 percent from those of non-residents to reflect tax support for employee benefits. As listed in the catalog, The first price is the rate for Johnson County Residents, while the second price is for non-residents. (For exceptions, see the question above.)

Q: Does the JCPRD have sites/facilities available for weddings?

A: Yes. JCPRD has both indoor and outdoor venues available for wedding events and all of our shelters maybe reserved for weddings, graduation and/or other special events.

JCPRD Outdoor venues: If you are interested in an outdoor location, please feel free to visit our Helen Cuddy Memorial Rose Garden at Antioch Park, Blackbob Island at Heritage Park and the Whispering Pine at Ernie Miller Nature Center. The Rose Garden is primarily used for weddings only. Blackbob Island is located next the Heritage Park lake and can accomadate up to 240 guests. The Whispering Pine has a limestone outdoor fireplace, attached restrooms, and can accommodate up to 200 people.

JCPRD Indoor venues: If you are interested in our indoor facilities, our Mildale Farm facility is one of Kansas City's premier spots. Also, our Heritage Park Golf Course Green Room venue seats over a hundred guests. Our TimberRidge Adventure Center's Welcome Center located in Olathe, Kansas consists of a beautiful wrap around deck, full size kitchen and can accommodate up to 80 guests. For information regarding the Mildale Farm facility please contact Kari Sanborn at (913) 831-3355; for the Heritage Park Green Room, please contact Wayne Montgomery at (913) 829-4653 ext. 3 and for information regarding the TimberRidge Adventure Center contact Lysa Holladay at (913) 856-8849 ext. 24.

The Park & Recreation District has a division known as "The Picnic Program" that can arrange catering, chair rental, etc. for gatherings. If you are interested in speaking to them for a price quote, please call (913) 831-3355 x266 or x236.

We do not reserve shelters through our web site. All reservations are conducted via telephone or on a walk-in basis. For availability and reservations call (913)-831-3359 or visit our Antioch Park Registration Dept. office at 6501 Antioch Rd, Bldg. C, Merriam, KS. Reservations are taken one year in advance of the event date.

Q: Does JCPRD have off-leash Dog areas in their parks?

A: Yes. JCPRD has four off-leash dog areas in Johnson County. The four parks are: Shawnee Mission Park, Heritage Park, Thomas Stoll Memorial Park and the Kill Creek Streamway (95th St. entrance point). Each off-leash area has an enclosed fenced area. Also, the Shawnee Mission and Heritage Parks include a dog swimming section. Kill Creek Streamway has a creek, but the banks are too steep and the water is generally a few inches deep. We do not recommend using the creek for dog swimming.

Q: Are there any fees or permits required to fish in the county lakes, where can I get the permits, and to which lakes do these apply?

A: To fish in the Johnson County Park & Recreation District lakes at Heritage Park, Shawnee Mission Park, Antioch Park, Kill Creek Park and Thomas S. Stoll Memorial Park, you will need to purchase a Kansas State Fishing License and a Johnson County Fishing Permit. Trout fishing requires an additional permit. All of these may be purchased at one of our offices: Registration - Bldg. C, 6501 Antioch Rd., Merriam, KS and John Barkley Visitors' Center, 7900 Renner Rd., Lenexa , KS. They are also available at many sporting goods retailers in the area. Boating permits are also available at all of these sites. Please note that the fishing at Antioch Park is "catch and release" only. For more information on the age requirements and fees, click here. You may also call us at (913) 888-4713. For information on any other lakes, you will need to contact the city in which they are located.

Q: Does JCPRD offer Adult Volleyball or Basketball Leagues and where are they held?

A: JCPRD runs both Adult Volleyball and Basketball Leagues out of the Roeland Park 4850 Rosewood) and Tomahawk (17501 Midland Dr.) Sports Dome. Leagues are run year round.

Q: Do the Roeland Park or Tomahawk Sports Domes have open gym times?

A: No. The Sports Domes do offer court rentals based on availability, but does not have open gym times, with one exception, there is an Adult Open Volleyball on Friday nights (year round) at the Roeland Park Sports Dome. Start times for adult open volleyball does vary so please contact the Roeland Park Sports Dome at 913-362-8700 for details.

Q: Does the Johnson County Park and Recreation District offer horse rentals at its Oakridge Stables adjacent to Shawnee Mission Park?

A: While Shawnee Mission Park offers several horseback trails, Oakridge Stables is strictly a horse boarding operation. No rentals are available. The District does offer youth and adult English Horseback Riding classes off-site at Windaway Stables, 23000 S. Switzer Road, Bucyrus. For more information on these classes, see the Nature & Outdoors of the JCPRD's current ACTIVITIES catalog, or visit the programs and activities section of this web site.