Shawnee Mission Park

Or call (913) 888-4713 or email info@jcprd.com for more information.

• Teresa
  Jan 12, 2021
  Small Dogs

  Have enjoyed the OL area for many years with my dog, Bailey, who was a Aussie mix. Now I have two mini Dachshunds and would love to take them, but am concerned about the big and more aggressive dogs. Would love to see a segregated "small dog" area to minimize risk.

• Alison
  More than a year ago
  Dog Heaven, Trails with a Beach, Good Vibe

  This park is the closest you will get in the city to taking your dog into the wilderness and letting him go free. It's huge. It has trails, fields of long prairie-like grass for dogs to run through, and a rocky beach with nice water to swim in. The park is not *entirely* enclosed if you head deep into the woods on the sides.

  TIPS:
  -Bring poop bags--on nice days they run out.
  -No Human bathrooms--porta-potty in parking lot. Go in advance or visit the Marina.
  -One water fountain when you enter
  -Head straight on path to go to dog beach, head right to hike there via woods
  -Human swimming is not allowed on dog beach but people do it, rarely enforced
  -Don't leave valuables in your car, theft happens.
  -Very family friendly. Watch out for kids!

  My dog dog tears through the wooded section multiple times a week off-path. There were snake bites in 2012 but not reported recently. I believe it to be pretty safe here.

  No breed restrictions. A lot of people with power breeds come here to work their dogs so you will see GSDs, rotts, dobermans, mastiffs, pits, and danes. If you have a well-behaved dog, you are in good company no matter the breed and will meet a lot of friendly faces! The only issue we've had here is the same with any dog park--user error! People have brought female dogs in heat (every time a german short haired pointer) and caused a ruckus. Kansas is also very family friendly and there are more kids here than most places. People often bring small children to the park without parenting them, so be on the lookout for screaming toddlers that could get knocked over, kids misbehaving, and some dogs guarding young kids.

• Jean
  More than a year ago
  Dog NIrvana

  I have traveled with my dogs across much of the U.S., plotting our route so they can expend energy at various dog parks from city to city. I have never found another dog park as good or as big as Shawnee Mission.

  This is a 53-acre dog park! It is designed with quite a variety of paths and terrain -- from a wide, level path that is frequented by many dogs -- to wooded trails where you can walk in shady solitude. Whichever path you choose, you'll end up at a very large, well maintained beach area where dogs can wade and swim in a beautiful coved area of this huge lake.

  That said, this park does not have any restrictions on breeds so you will see Pit Bulls (one of whom killed a smaller dog earlier last year). Also, there are not separate areas for small or big dogs. And you do need to have control over your dog, as this park is huge and not completely fenced.

  But, overall, as dog parks go, this one is nirvana.

• Chi
  More than a year ago
  Copperheads!

  This is a GREAT park...in the late fall, winter, and early spring. Too risky to go any other time, though it is a real bummer because my dogs LOVE to swim in the lake. We really miss it, too, but there are too many Copperhead incidents. I cannot afford to have a heart attack carrying my dog(s) back up that hill, in the hopes that they get to the vet on time. I cannot afford vet bills of that magnitude. I cannot afford to suffer a poisonous snake bite, myself. Note that when I called the Parks department, some Einstein told me, "too bad; the snakes belong there; it is their home; we aren't going to go chasing snakes; if you don't like it, don't go." Well, I know several dogs have been bitten in the last year and a half. PLEASE EXTERMINATE THE COPPERHEADS. They are deadly. People exterminate snakes all the time; it isn't that big of a deal. Wondering why they think it's ok to shoot the deer, but find the poisonous snakes to be an acceptable risk to the general public and their pets??? What will they say when it's someone's kid who is bit, instead of someone's dog? WARNING: There is a serious problem at this park. Until the parks department accepts responsibility and professionally exterminates the poisonous snakes, this park is a danger to you, your children, and your pets.

• Bryan
  More than a year ago
  Good Park

  If you can survive the OCD dog owners you will love this place. Beware the dog park is not fully enclosed so if you have a wandering K9 it could be a while getting back to the car. By the way, dogs survive copperhead bites all the time. Stay on the main (mowed) grass area and you'll be fine.

• Laura
  More than a year ago
  Worth the Travel Time

  I use to take Libra out there ever weekend and several times during the week for years. Now that I have moved to Mo, we don't get to go as often maybe every other weekend if we are lucky. I personally have never had a problem with these copperheads this other fellow speaks of. They paved a portion a few years back to make it handicap accessable and I think that helps keep people safe and where they belong in a dog park.

• Rosemary
  More than a year ago
  Great dog park

  First time coming to an off leash dog park & we loved it! All the dogs were friendly, and so were the people that were there. Lilly our dog had a great time running free & saying hi to other dogs, she didn't seem too excited about the lake she's afraid of them for some reason but other than that this a great place to let your pets burn some energy off.

• Julie
  More than a year ago
  A Great Park!

  I have taken my dogs to this park for years. It is a beautiful and wide open park and on weekdays not too crowded. People are usually very nice and friendly. The beach is terrific and the dogs really enjoy jumping in the water and playing.

We dug up 3 pictures of dogs at Shawnee Mission Park.

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