Welcome to Ernie Miller Nature Center

Gatherings such as weddings, graduations, corporate events, and birthdays are welcome. To ensure the use of a shelter, reservations are recommended.

Applications accepted for CARES Act-funded subsidies for JCPRD school-age remote learning and child

Johnson County Board of County Commissioners have awarded CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act funds, which will subsidize Johnson County Park and Recreation District school-age remote learning and child care programs. 

JCPRD...

Project to remove and replace three shelters in Shawnee Mission Park to begin week of Sept. 21

Three picnic shelters located near the north shore of Shawnee Mission Park Lake are closing for demolition and replacement, which could take up to six months, according to Johnson County Park and Recreation District officials.

A notice to proceed with this...

Kansas City Symphony concerts begin Thursday in Johnson County parks

The first of 14 free outdoor chamber music concerts performed by various ensembles of Kansas City Symphony musicians at Johnson County Park and Recreation District parks and facilities will take place on the evening of Thursday, Sept. 17, in Heritage Park...

Reserve your 2020 Fall Group Hayride now for best choice of dates

Enjoy the crisp autumn air by taking a hayride through Oak Ridge Parklands at Shawnee Mission Park. Organized hayrides for groups are available through the Johnson County Park and Recreation District and conclude with a warm campfire where apple cider and...

Mill Creek Streamway Park access point closed beginning Sept. 1

A roughly 1.25-mile section of the Gary L. Haller in the Mill Creek Streamway Park will be closed for a maintenance project, Johnson County Park and Recreation District officials announced. 

The closure begins Tuesday, Sept. 1, and involves the cl...

Hear from a rollercoaster enthusiast during museum’s virtual History on Tap session on Oct. 1

Learn more about how rollercoasters got started and why people like them so much during a virtual History on Tap program being presented by the Johnson County Museum in early October. 

This one-hour program, called History on Tap: Ups, Downs, Loop...

New Outdoor Pickleball Tournament set for Oct. 2 at Meadowbrook Park

A new early October outdoor 50 Plus Pickleball Tournament was recently announced and will take place at the Johnson County Park and Recreation District’s Meadowbrook Park, 9101 Nall Ave., Prairie Village. Social distancing and COVID-19 safe prac...

Next Kids' Day Out program at Mill Creek Activity Center set for Oct. 2

Kids’ need a break too! Children ages five to 12 are invited to enjoy fun activities during a Kids’ Day Out program planned in early October at the Johnson County Park and Recreation District’s Mill Creek Activity Center in S...

JCPRD gymnastics offers coed cartwheel clinic on Oct. 2

It’ll be all about cartwheels during a coed skill clinic being offered in early October by the gymnastics department of the Johnson County Park and Recreation District. Physical distancing and COVID-19 safe practices will be observed during this...

Ukulele program for ages youth starts Oct. 3 at Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center

Children ages eight to 12 can learn the fundamentals of playing the ukulele during a program being offered by the Johnson County Park and Recreation District beginning in early October.

This program is called Mahalo! Ukulele Fun, and is for ages eight to 1...

Evening Kayak excursion for beginners offered on Oct. 3 in Shawnee Mission Park

Adults can enjoy an evening on the water kayaking around Shawnee Mission Park Lake during a program being offered in early October by the Johnson County Park and Recreation District. Physical distancing and COVID-19 safe practices will be observed during ...

Virtual Aging Mastery class offered for 50 Plus beginning Oct. 7

A comprehensive and fun approach to living that celebrates the gift of longevity is what participants will find in a program being offered beginning in early October by the 50 Plus Department of the Johnson County Park and Recreation District.

The virtual ...

Free Virtual Live Well Age Well event for 50 Plus is Oct. 8 & 9

Focus on ways to help live your life well during two days of live virtual sessions when the Johnson County Park and Recreation District’s 50 Plus Department presents a modified version of its annual Live Well Age Well special event in early-Octo...

Animal Tales Storytime sessions continue on Oct. 8 and 22

“Fox’s Tale” and “Who’s There?” are the themes of October Animal Tales Storytime sessions being presented by the Johnson County Park and Recreation District’s Outdoor Education Departme...

Worm Bin Workshop offered on Oct. 8 at Ernie Miller Nature Center

Discover the fun of making organic fertilizer inside your home with vermiculture, during a Worm Bin Workshop being offered in early October by the Johnson County Park and Recreation District at the Ernie Miller Nature Center, 909 North Kansas 7 Highway, O...

“The Happy Man and his Dump Truck” is subject of next museum Retro Storytime program on Oct. 14

Parents and their preschoolers will love stories and illustrations from long ago, read by a special guest from the 1950s All-Electric House during a series of programs being offered monthly through December at the Johnson County Museum. Physical distancin...

Take a “Tour of Roses” during new virtual program on Oct. 13

Take a virtual tour of the Laura Conyers Smith Rose Garden, located in Kansas City, Mo., during a virtual program being offered by the 50 Plus Department of the Johnson County Park and Recreation District.

This new program is called Tour of Roses, and will...

Self-Defense Program for Ages 12 and older to be presented by The Ali Kemp Educational Foundation

A self-defense program meant to help women and girls fight the kind of violence which killed a 19-year-old Leawood resident who was murdered while working as a lifeguard at a neighborhood pool in Johnson County is being offered in early October at the Joh...

Next Nature Time Yoga session set for Oct. 15 at Ernie Miller Nature Center

Encouraging creativity, coordination, and enhancing awareness of the natural world are goals of a popular standalone yoga program for young children and a parent or guardian being offered by the Johnson County Park and Recreation District at the Ernie Mil...

Chili is theme for next social event bingo program for 50 Plus on Oct. 15

Celebrate the changing of the seasons meeting new friends over a mild chili, salad, and cinnamon roll dinner during a special event bingo presentation planned in mid-October by the 50 Plus Department of the Johnson County Park and Recreation District. Phy...

Learn about the “Power of Pets” during new virtual program on Oct. 15

Pet lovers know that nothing compares to the joy of coming home to a loyal companion. Learn more about the importance of animal companions during a virtual program being offered by the 50 Plus Department of the Johnson County Park and Recreation District....

SMSD Aquatic Center reopens, now taking registrations for late October swim lessons

After being closed since late March because of COVID-19, the Shawnee Mission School District Aquatic Center in Lenexa City Center reopened on Sept. 21, and is now taking registrations for youth swim lessons set to begin in late October. Physical distancin...

Youth Leagues

Offering a wide range of youth sports for softball, basketball, soccer and volleyball...