Parkville, Missouri is located on the Missouri River in Platte County and has a population of 5,554 residents. The city is known for its historic downtown with antique shops and art galleries. English Landing Park, set on the banks of the Missouri River is a popular area for recreation for residents. The city is home to Park University with an enrollment of 1,600 students locally along with 40 satellite locations in 21 states The popular Tom Watson designed National Golf Club of Kansas City sites on the north edge of the city.
When my family and I moved to Parkville in 2006, the main attraction (besides the schools) was Downtown Parkville. With its unique shops, restaurants, walking trails and baseball fields, we felt we had found an oasis outside of the hustle and bustle of the surrounding communities. This was the case for a number of years. Then the financial crisis hit, and lots of those businesses closed up shop and Main Street suffered for years with lots of vacancies, businesses coming and going, etc. In the last couple of years, there has been a revival. We've seen businesses keep their doors open and new ones opening their doors. Today, a new restaurant, the River Park Pub & Eatery, is opening its doors at the old Power Plant building. This is one of those spaces that has been dying for a tenant! With a great patio and upstairs deck, this should be a is a no-brainer. I can't wait to try it out. Main Street also has a new boutique, "Sincerely, Ellis", that opened over the weekend. I plan to stop in and shop after lunch at River Park. Next time you are looking for something to do on a Saturday, stop by and check out our little town and visit the locally-owned businesses while you're at it!