Hodge Park

Kansas City, MO (Northland)

When KC Parks and Rec renovated Hodge Park back in 2019, it became and instant favorite for Northlanders. The first thing you'll notice about this playground when you pull up is that it's absolutely huge. The playground equipment is laid out on over half an acre of artificial turf, which gives the kids lots of room to run. The main climbing structure combines a pyramid shaped rope climber with a tall enclosed climbing tower, providing lots of different options for different ages. There is also an artificial rock that bears a striking resemblance to Pride Rock from the Lion King, which our kids love to imitate! There are various low rope climbing challenges, web swings, and climbers that look like the ruins of log cabins spread out over the rest of the play area. There are also two slides that sit on the contour of the hills, making them great for smaller kids. A smaller climber and slide for toddlers is separate enough to keep the big kids off, but still right near all the action. The only piece of equipment that is outside the large turf area is a zip line, which is always a popular addition with our family.

From the parent perspective, this playground comes really, really close to getting it perfect. The whole playground is enclosed by metal fencing, making it feel very safe. Inside the fence there is a covered pavilion as well as two different covered seating areas for parents to watch over their kids. The one glaring shortcoming of this park is the lack of bathrooms. There is one handicap accessible port-a-potty out near the parking lot, but that is the only option. No bathroom also means that there is no water fountain or faucet for filling water bottles. While the lack of bathroom isn't a deal breaker, it feels like a huge missed opportunity to make this a complete destination playground.

Another neat thing about the playground is that it is part of Hodge Park. At over 1000 acres, Hodge Park is the second largest park in the KC Parks and Rec system. The playground sits and the north end of the park near a set of baseball, football, and soccer fields. Near the fields is a trailhead for a great set of nature trails that are popular for hiking, trail running, and mountain biking. At the south end of the park is the Hodge Park Golf Course and the Shoal Creek Living History Museum. If you have a little extra time when you visit, a trip to the Museum is totally worth it. It is an outdoor collection of buildings from the earliest European settlers in the area. Our kids love exploring the log cabins and other historic buildings. The icing on the cake is the small herd of bison that are visible near the parking lot. If you want to visit the Museum and see the bison, you can either use the paved trail that runs from the playground to the south end of the park (a little over a mile) or you can drive around and turn in at the golf course entrance.

Whether you just visit the playground or make a day of it by hiking or visiting the museum, Hodge Park is definitely near the top of the list of best parks in the Kansas City Northland.