Dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in our community, Johnson County Park and Recreation District offers year-round program, activities, and special events for all ages!

For more information or to register online for the programs listed here, visit JCPRD.com/Register and complete a search for any of the activity numbers listed below. To register by phone, call 913-831-3359.

A reminder that while JCPRD’s 50 Plus programs are primarily for people who are age 50 or older, interested parties who have not yet reached that magic age may still be able to attend. Persons 18 and older who are interested in a 50 Plus class are invited to call the 50 Plus Department at 913-826-2975 for space availability.

Here’s a sampling of programs JCPRD has coming up for the week of June 30-July 6:

June 27 - Museum: Free to Be..."1960s LGBTQ Activism in Kansas City" (Ages 16 and Older)

• Johnson County Museum at Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, 8788 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, 6 to 7 p.m., $8 per person or $6.40 for museum members - Many believe the struggle for gay and lesbian civil rights began with the Stonewall Uprising in June of 1969. However, activists had been working for nearly twenty years prior to that pivotal event to make inroads to securing full citizenship in the United States. Queer individuals in Kansas City played surprisingly important roles in that movement, while simultaneously advancing the cause locally. This talk will focus on those details as well as the vibrant LGBTQ social scene in Kansas City in the 1960s. The presenter for this program is Stuart Hinds, the curator of special collections and archives for the Libraries of the University of Missouri - Kansas City. In 2009 he was a co-founder of the Gay and Lesbian Archive of Mid-America, an initiative to collect, preserve, and make accessible the documents and artifacts that reflect the histories of the LGBTQ communities in the Kansas City region. He has written and presented extensively on LGBTQ history, and is an adjunct instructor in the UMKC Department of History. This program ties into the museum’s current special exhibit, “Free to Be... A 1960s Fashion Revolution.” This groovy exhibition takes visitors on a captivating journey through the vibrant world of 1960s women's fashion via four distinct themes that symbolize the era's spirit of self-expression and cultural transformation. Activity number 39559.

June 29, July 6 - Gymnastics: Indoor Open Gym (Ages 4.5-17)

• Mill Creek Activity Center, 6518 Vista Dr., Shawnee, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., $7 per person - Head to Mill Creek Activity Center for 60 minutes of unstructured, supervised gym time on all gymnastics apparatuses, trampoline and our loose foam pit. A great opportunity for program participants to safely work on skills outside of class! June 29 session, activity number 35390. July 6 session, activity number 35391. Call 913-826-2950 for more information.

July 1 - Museum: Sensory Friendly Monday (All Ages)

• Johnson County Museum at Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, 8788 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, 9 a.m. to Noon, $4 per person for ages up to 18, $6 per person for ages 18 to 59, and $5 per person for ages 60 and older - Come enjoy the Johnson County Museum and KidScape in a comfortable, low-sensory environment. This limited-occupancy session is designed specifically for children with sensory processing differences and Autism Spectrum Disorders, and their families. We welcome visitors of all abilities and museum experience. We also welcome hand fidgets, comfort items, weighted blankets and vests, and mobility devices. Activity number 35150. For questions about this program, please call 913-715-2570.

July 1 - Special Interest: Nutrition Made Simple (Ages 50 and Older)

• Roeland Park Community Center, 4850 Rosewood Dr., Roeland Park, 1 to 2:30 p.m., $5 per person, $6 nonresidents - Does healthy eating confuse you? This presentation breaks down myths and provides strategies to help you understand real nutrition so you can start eating healthy today. Learn how to read food labels, identify diet traps and make small lifelong changes. Program presented by K-State Extension. Activity number 39124.

July 1-3 - Music: Musical Theatre Olympics (Ages 10-17)

• Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, 8788 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 3 sessions, $203 per person, $223 nonresidents - NEW! This program infuses the joy of musical performance with friendly competition. Designed for budding performers, ages 10-18, the camp offers an immersive experience in acting, singing and dancing. Participants will collaborate, rehearse, and showcase their talents in a supportive environment, fostering teamwork and individual growth. Dive into the world of musical theatre while embracing the spirit of healthy competition. Unleash your passion and creativity! Activity number 33851.

July 1, 5 - Gymnastics: Indoor Playground (Ages 1-5)

• Mill Creek Activity Center, 6518 Vista Dr., Shawnee, 11 a.m. to Noon, $6 per person - Indoor Playground incorporates fun-filled playtime with obstacle courses and play gym equipment. Children up to 5 years of age will have the opportunity to focus their energy while developing strength and agility. Parent/legal guardian will be asked to sign a waiver and an adult must be present with their child at all times. Please call 913-826-2950 for any questions. July 1 session, activity number 35363. July 5 session, activity number 35364. Call 913-826-2950 for more information.

July 2 - Movies in the Park: “The Little Mermaid” (2023) (Rated PG) 

• Theatre in the Park in Shawnee Mission Park with a separate entrance at 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee, Gates and Box Office open at 8 p.m., movie starts between 8:30 and 8:45 p.m., depending on sunset, $1 per person - 3rd of 5 through July 30 - The youngest of King Triton’s daughters and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea and, while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric. While mermaids are forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel must follow her heart. She makes a deal with the evil sea witch Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land but ultimately places her life – and her father’s crown – in jeopardy. Learn more about 2024 Movies in the Park offerings. 

July 2 - Open Water Swim Training (Ages 18 and Older)

• Shawnee Mission Park Beach, 7900 Renner Road, Shawnee & Lenexa, 5:30 to 6:15 p.m., $10 per person, $12 nonresidents - Looking to train for an upcoming triathlon or to change up your swim workout? JCPRD offers open water swim training on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Shawnee Mission Park Beach. All swimmers should be able to swim 500 meters freestyle and have endurance to swim in open water conditions and must bring and wear their tow buoy float at all times while in the water. Lifeguard will be on duty. All participants must be pre-registered by 10 a.m. on the day of the training. A minimum number of participants must be registered or the practice will be canceled. If a participant is registered for a canceled practice date, a full refund will be given. July 2 session activity number 35156. No Thursday session this week because of July 4 holiday.