Gracing scenic Antioch Park, designed in 1974, the Helen S. Cuddy Rose Garden is located in the northwest corner of the park. The rose garden is named in honor of Helen S. Cuddy (1896-1997) for her dedication to beautification through lifelong service and work in garden club projects. The rose garden has a wide array of beautiful trees, a sundial, fountain, gazebo, an abundance of perennials, shrubs, ornamental grasses and bulbs, and an estimated 500 different roses.The rose garden was established as a community project of the East Central Kansas Garden Club.

Rose Garden Weddings
The Helen S. Cuddy Rose Garden is a wonderfully picturesque and very popular site for outdoor weddings.

Contact
For permit information please, please visit the Special Permits page or call (913) 831-3355.




The Xeriscape Demonstration Garden: JCPRD Administration Building
Established in October 1996 as a landscape for the Johnson County Park and Recreation District Administration Building, it also serves as a teaching garden for our Xeriscape classes conducted in cooperation with the Water District company (now named WaterOne).

Xeriscaping Explained
Xeriscaping was a term meaning - water wise or water efficient landscaping. Xeriscaping is a method of gardening that involves choosing plants that are appropriate to their site and creating a landscape that can be maintained with little supplemental watering. Some of the principles of xeriscape guarding are planting according to your property's orientation to the sun and wind and choosing grass, trees, shrubs, and perennials. JCPRD has two xeriscape gardens located at Antioch and Shawnee Mission Parks.

Xeriscape is very important for many reasons - one of the main reasons is that it conserves water usage. Also, you will have healthier gardens and landscapes and less need to use fertilizers and pesticides. It also assists in enriching the soil to make it moisture retentive.

The Seven Principles of Good Xeriscaping
The garden was designed to demonstrate and explain the benefits of good Xeriscaping techniques. The 7 principles of good Xeriscaping are: 1) Good planning and design; 2) Soil improvement; 3) Use of mulches and ground covers; 4) Practical lawn areas; 5) Efficient irrigation practices; 6) Appropriate maintenance techniques and 7) Appropriate plant selection (water efficient plants). These techniques have proven to save water, time and money. Irrigation is not required, only when necessary.

The demonstration gardens have become very popular for environmental conscious use of home, school and community landscaping.

Our Gardens
JCPRD's gardens are located inside the main entrance in Antioch Park and in front of the District's Administration Building, located inside the main entrance of Shawnee Mission Park.

Contact
If interested in discussing Xeriscaping and its benefits please contact Tod Hueser at (913) 894-3344, e-mail him at info@jcprd.com or contact our John Barkley Visitor Center during regular business hours, located in Shawnee Mission Park.



The Antioch Park Memorial Arboretum borders the Helen S. Cuddy Rose Garden in Antioch Park. The arboretum is in a beautiful section of the park that is set aside for the cultivation of trees, shrubs and plants from all over the country. Its walkways allow park visitors to view many different types of trees and shrubs as well as providing a quiet place for thoughtful, leisurely strolls.

In Loving Memory
JCPRD's Memorials Program gives park patrons an opportunity to celebrate a loved one’s life and memory in a beautiful, natural setting. Family, friends and organizations are welcome to make contributions for the planting of trees in the arboretum and other areas of district parks.

Contact
For more information, please email info@jcprd.com or call (913) 894-3346.