Black Hoof Park / Lake Lenexa

June 21, 2013

6:59 a.m.

The Kansas City area is bursting with fabulous parks and playgrounds for families to enjoy. We, at KC Parent, love sharing the Best Parks in KC with our readers and this summer, as part of the 100 Days of Summer Blog, we'll be exploring individual parks and sharing their amenities with you in photo blogs showcasing the creative spaces that make them special!

This week, we visited Black Hoof Park at Lake Lenexa. The 160-acre park with a 35-acre, deep-water Lake Lenexa, the park is scenic and perfect for a variety of interests - with trails for walking, hiking, or biking, a nice playground, and the centerpiece of the park - the 35-acre Lake Lenexa with a boat launch and fishing dock - this park brings nature to the suburbs. The park is also home to a wide variety of wildlife including deer, coyotes, red foxes, birds, butterflies, rattlesnakes, frogs and lizards.

B lack Hoof Park at Lake Lenexa

9054 Monticello Rd.Lenexa, KS

Park Hours of Operation:

5 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Boating Hours of Operation:

November - February 6 a.m. - 5 p.m.
March, April, September, October 6 a.m. - 7 p.m.
May - August 5 a.m. - 9 p.m

Our Favorite Things about Black Hoof Park:

A nearly five-mile trail system surrounding the peaceful lake, traveling through the woods, and to the playground and picnic area. Visitors enjoy both paved and non-paved trails for multiple interests - a great way to exercise and enjoy nature.
The picnic area overlooking the lake and playground features half a dozen picnic tables with a roofed shelter.
Clean modern restrooms.
There are 2 playgrounds! We visited the smaller (of the two) playground by the lake. It is nice and well-maintained. Overlooking the lake, it is really pretty and great fun with climbing features, slides, and swings. (Note: This playground is NOT shaded and this was one complaint on a sunny day). The second play area is about five times as big as the playground by the lake - it features a nature play area that is set into Becker’s Woodland so there is plenty of shade for playing, resting and depending on the time of day it shades the actual playgrounds. Other amenities include three sets of play equipment for all age levels, play stream, sandbox, hide and seek cedars, boulder climbing, exploration areas, restrooms and a shelter for 150+ people that overlooks the lake. This playground is SUPER popular with playgroups! View the Black Hoof Park Brochure and map for details.
Visitors may fish in the lake. There is a fishing dock next to the boat launch ramp. (However, no swimming!) The park follows Kansas State Fishing Regulations.
The park is a nature preserve of prairies, wetlands, forest, and streams.
The dam - "Lake Lenexa’s dam and spillway merge engineering with art. Using innovative and cutting-edge concrete and earthwork practices, the design is an artistic representation of the water cycle that features fountains, sculptures and cascading pools. The pedestrian bridge above the spillway offers an exclusive view of the lake and its imaginative dam and spillway design."
This is a community park enjoyed by all generations.