Regardless of your lifestyle or interests, Overland Park is the community you’ve been looking for. Overland Park is a nationally recognized city that has a multitude of features, including a low crime rate, excellent schools, and multiple local attractions. Located just 15 minutes from downtown Kansas City and 35 minutes from the Kansas City International Airport, Overland Park is a great place to work, play, and raise a family. Overland Park was initially established as a subdivision in 1905 by William B. Strange Jr. and was incorporated on May 20, 1960 with a population of 28,085. The city now covers just over 73 square miles of Johnson County and has more than 175,000 residents, making it the second most populous city in Kansas.Overland Park boasts many national honors and in 2012 was rated as one of the top 10 Best Places to Live by CNN Money Magazine. Overland Park has a thriving business industry that is home to several large corporations, including Sprint, as well as the full-service Overland Park Convention Center. If you like to shop, there are many choices ranging from the local flavor of the quaint shops in the recently renovated Clock Tower Plaza in Downtown Overland Park to the many name-brand stores located in Oak Park Mall. The Farmer’s Market located in downtown Overland Park is open from April through September and features over 70 vendors who provide farm-fresh produce to the local community. When it’s time to play, you will find activities to suit a variety of choices for you and your family. Overland Park has more than 1,800 acres of park land and open space. Many of the city's 72 parks feature activities that include hiking and biking trails, playgrounds, tennis courts, and basketball courts. The 300-acre Arboretum & Botanical Gardens is an educational, recreational and cultural resource that was founded to keep the city on the cutting edge of environmental issues. If you prefer a livelier form of recreation, you might prefer the 96-acre Overland Park Soccer Complex which was named the top soccer facility in the nation by Livability. Additionally, Overland Park features three public community centers, a 911 memorial, and the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art located on the campus of Johnson County Community College.
Stoll Park is located on 119th Street just west of Quivira. I have spent many days there watching my kids play soccer. When you stop by, enjoy the shelter house for a picnic with family or friends or stroll around one of the various walking trails located within the park. The park even has a medium sized lake and a very popular off-leash dog park. At Stoll Park, you can enjoy park activities without having to go all the way to Shawnee Mission Park. I have also seen lots of kite flying there. Stoll Park is also close to the walking trails that connect and wind through southern Johnson County.