The City of Lenexa has begun a year-long process to create a new the Parks & Recreation Master Plan. When finished, the plan will identify a 10-year vision for Lenexa Parks & Recreation program offerings, general capital improvements, facility management, park amenities, and future parks and trails locations and types.

You are invited to share thoughts about your priorities for parks and recreation during an open house on Saturday, April 29, 2023, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Lenexa Rec Center, 17201 W. 87th St. Pkwy.

“It is really important to hear from those we serve,” said Lenexa Parks & Recreation Director Logan Wagler. “The coming decade is full of possibilities, and updating the master plan is happening at a perfect time. We can continue reinvesting in current amenities and create new recreational opportunities throughout our growing community. Hearing from our residents will help us understand their priorities and incorporate those ideas into the master plan.”

In addition to the open house, community feedback will be gathered using other online tools in the coming months and through a statistically valid survey.

Lenexa’s current Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Comprehensive Plan was accepted by City Council in 2012, and the new plan will build on its successes. “We are proud to have accomplished many community priorities identified in 2012,” said Wagler. “A decade ago, the public told us they wanted a state-of-the-art recreation center with an indoor pool. Since we opened the Lenexa Rec Center in 2017, more than 1.4 million visits have taken place. Residents also shared that quality trails were important, and we have developed several miles of new trails while reconstructing miles of trails that had worn out over time.”

Other improvements that came out of the 2012 master plan include improved youth recreational fields and programs at Freedom Fields and Little Mill Creek Parks; new festivals and events including Sar-Ko Aglow and the Lenexa Art Fair; major growth in recreational programming; and launching the Lenexa Farmers Market.

The updated Parks & Recreation Master Plan will create a clear set of public-inspired goals to guide professional staff and elected officials. In addition to public input, the new plan will be based on an evaluation of existing parks, trails, facilities and programs; an examination of recreation trends; a needs analysis and peer city assessment. The plan will align with Vision 2040, the City of Lenexa’s community-wide visioning effort, and Lenexa’s Comprehensive Plan, which is also currently being updated.

In January 2023, the City of Lenexa selected Landworks Studio to lead the Parks & Recreation Master Plan process. 

Work on the plan will continue throughout the year, with several opportunities for public engagement. The project team intends to present the plan to the City Council for consideration by the end of the year.