Cliff Drive Fall

Not as colorful as last year, but certainly appealing. The Cliff Drive Scenic Byway getting ready for winter.

KC Parks Part Four: Swope

Swope Park is the 29th largest municipal park in the United States. It's 1,805 acres were donated to the City in 1896 by Thomas Swope whose Memorial Gravesite is contained on the grounds. Above, Lake of the Woods on Gregory and, below, the approach to the Swope Memorial.



Above and below the site of Colonel Swope's grave.

A wonderful view from the Memorial looking west.




Above and below, two more views of the Lake of the Woods... popular place to fish and picnic.
Below, the Pavillion, not far from the western entrance to the Park.

Flag Flies High

The Jacob Loose Memorial Flagpole was rededicated today. The pole stands near the Meyer Boulevard Entrance to Swope Park..Refurbished and painted it stands close to 200-feet tall. Originally dedicated on July 5th 1915 in front of a crowd of 70 to 80 thousand people it had fallen into disrepair in years past and the four plaques that adorned the base were missing. All have been restored.

Parks Director Mark McHenry was master of ceremonies and other guest speakers read portions of the Declaration of Independence and the Gettysburg Address.






Mr. George Bates' Great, Great Uncle was Jacob Loose... he and his brother, Nathaniel did the unveiling of the refurbished plaque.




The American Legion Band then played the Star Spangled Banner and nearby Battle of Westport Reenactors fired a canon......

This Budds For You

Judge Azariah Budd (1824-1890) Made Northeast his home and, on his death, gave back to the community donating 21 acres of his property to the city for a park to bear his name. The only stipulation was that the City was to give give his surviving wife a stipend of $3,000 per year until she passed away. Naturally some contested the legality of the city doing so... but a judge ruled it was legal. Below this shot of the park is an entry detailing the transaction.

Budd is well maintained by Parks and Rec and has cleanups by the Indian Mound Neighborhood Association a few times a year... it has been staying remarkably clean lately.


Walkers use the paths morning and evening for exercise.... it's particularly nice with the fall colors.


In Northeast in many of the street corners (including the one Hyper lives on) are tiles giving the cross street name. Parks has been successful in duplicating the look when sections of the sidewalks have to be redone. Hypers street says "Lakota Avenue"... which was its name until the mid-thirties when the City Council changed it to Sunrise Drive.
There are two playgrounds, one is shown above, and a swimming pool, below. A soccer field, ball diamond, basketball court and several shelter houses.

Above... the Budd House still stands on the south side of the park on Budd Park Esplanade... when I was growing up there were remains of a barn on Hardesty Avenue just a block away from the house....
It's still a single-family residence and is being restored....







There is a massive oak that could date from the Budd years in the yard on the east side.... massive tree.




We are lucky over here to have such great parks.... and thanks to the Judge for his donation :)