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Ten Overnight Fishing Saturdays at four Johnson County Park and Recreation District lakes are being planned this year, beginning in mid-May.
The first Overnight Fishing Saturday will take place on May 11 at Shawnee Mission Park Lake. After 11 p.m. on that date, the park will be open strictly for fishing only and park police officers will be on duty throughout the night. All park gates will be open, but access within the park will be limited. The south side of the park will be barricaded east of the 87th Street “Y” and west of the 79th Street “Y” off of Barkley Circle near the main entrance.
Fishing will be allowed from the bank or from watercraft. Park safety officials noted state law requires a white light be on at all times on boats on the water after sunset. Before fishing in district waters, anglers age 16 and older will need to have a valid Kansas fishing license, a Johnson County Park and Recreation District fishing permit, and all appropriate boat tags, if applicable. All persons, regardless of age or residency, must also possess a JCPRD trout permit. Trout permits are required whether you plan to keep your catch (up to a daily limit of four) or release the trout you catch. District fishing permits are available at: the JCPRD Registration Office, Building D, 6501 Antioch Road, at the Visitors Services counter in the JCPRD Administration Building in Shawnee Mission Park, 7900 Renner Road, Shawnee and Lenexa; and at local sporting goods outlets.
This year’s other Overnight Fishing Saturdays at Shawnee Mission Park are planned for June 22, July 20, and Aug. 17. Overnight Fishing Saturdays are also being offered on two dates at Heritage Park: June 1 and July 13, two dates at Kill Creek Park: June 8 and Aug. 10, and two dates at Lexington Lake on July 6 and Sept. 14.
Shawnee Mission Park is located at 7900 Renner Road, Shawnee and Lenexa. Heritage Park is located at 16050 Pflumm Road, Olathe. Kill Creek Park is located at 11670 Homestead Lane, Olathe. Lexington Lake Park is located at 8850 Sunflower Road, north of Kansas 10 Highway near the Lexington Avenue exit in De Soto.
To find the overnight fishing events in the My JCPRD Activities catalog, browse first under fun for all and then under nature & outdoors. In the catalog, the keyword for this program is “fishing.”
For more information about the overnight fishing program, call Visitor Services at (913) 888-4713.
It’s time to build walls, make sets, and pairs during a Mah Jongg special event being presented in early May by the 50 Plus Department of the Johnson County Park and Recreation District .
Mah Jongg is the popular Chinese tile collecting game which uses tiles with symbols on them. Some find the game, which has been played in China since the time of Confucius, helps with memory and concentration, and it is also a great way to meet new people.
This Mah Jongg May-nia event will take place beginning at noon on Friday, May 10, at the Tomahawk Ridge Community Center, 11902 Lowell, Overland Park. Tasty snacks are included, and fun door prizes will be awarded.
To find this program in the My JCPRD Activities catalog and online listings, browse first under 50 Plus and then under special events. In the catalog and when using the website’s advanced search, look for the keyword “games”
The cost for one four-hour event is $10 per person for Johnson County residents or $11 for nonresidents. For more information or to register by phone, call (913) 831-3359 or register online at www.jcprd.com.
While JCPRD 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 district’s Registration Department at (913) 831-3359, and if space is available without forfeiting the place of a person over 50, they are welcome to participate.
The My JCPRD Activities catalog, with information and a registration form, is available for pickup at all Johnson County Library branches.
As its eight-plus-month-long temporary exhibit about the 1920s comes to an end, the Johnson County Museum is bringing in a 2019 Academy Award winner for the last of eight programs which ties into the exhibit, which opened in late August.
Planned for May 9 is a program called An Evening with Kevin Willmott. A documentary filmmaker, University of Kansas professor, and winner of a 2019 Academy Award, Willmott will show his one-hour 2018 television biopic, “William Allen White: What’s the Matter with Kansas?” The film will be followed by a discussion with Wilmott and local film critic and museum foundation board member Lonita Cook. The documentary ties into a portion of the museum’s temporary exhibit called The Turbulent Twenties devoted to the rise of nationalism and nativism in the 1920s, and specifically looks at White’s unsuccessful 1924 bid for the governorship of Kansas, as well as the stronghold of the Klan in the Kansas City region.
An Evening with Kevin Willmott will take place beginning at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 9, at the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, 8788 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park. The cost for this two-hour program is $5 per person and includes museum admission. Museum members receive a 20 percent discount, but must register by phone by calling (913) 831-3359 to receive their discount. The program fee also includes museum admission, and the museum will be open extended hours of 4:30 to 7 p.m. for paid ticket holders. For more information or to register by phone, call (913) 831-3359. To register online at www.jcprd.com, click on “Register for Activities,” and complete a course ID search for 18886. This program is cosponsored by Cookie Lane Entertainment.
In February, Willmott was honored with an Oscar for best adapted screenplay for his work on the film “BlacKkKlansman,” which he co-wrote with Director Spike Lee, David Rabinowitz, and Charlie Wachtel. The outrageous and blistering biopic tells the story an of African-American police officer from Colorado who infiltrated the local Ku Klux Klan in the 1970s.
The museum’s Turbulent Twenties exhibit, which runs through May 11, fills a 1,600 square-foot gallery space with more than 100 images and over 50 objects, plus music, and video. The exhibit provides visitors with a national view of the issues, while also highlighting how the local region responded. Objectives for the exhibit are: exploring connections between Johnson County, the state of Kansas, and the larger national history of the decade; and drawing connections between the 1920s and our current society and culture.
The museum is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and is not open on Sunday. regular museum admission rates are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, and $3 for children.
Learn more about the museum or The Turbulent Twenties exhibit.
Introducing players to new games is the goal of a series of four programs being offered for the first time by the 50 Plus Department of the Johnson County Park and Recreation District beginning in early May
This program is called Learn to Play. It is basically a beginner’s guide to what’s sure to be participants' new favorite games.
May sessions will include Cribbage on Monday, May 6, and Pinochle on Monday, May 13. Both of these sessions will take place beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Matt Ross Community Center, 8101 Marty St., Overland Park. June sessions will include Hand and Foot on June 4, and Mexican Train Dominoes, which both begin at 10 a.m. at the Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse, 9101 Nall, Prairie Village.
To find these programs in the My JCPRD Activities catalog and online listings, browse first under 50 plus and then under enrichment & special interests. In the printed catalog and when using the website’s advanced search, look for the keyword “games.”
Each Learn to Play session will last two hours. The cost is $5 per person for Johnson County residents or $6 per person for nonresidents. For more information or to register, call (913) 831-3359. To register online at www.jcprd.com, click on the program titles listed above.
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) 826-3030 for space availability.
The My JCPRD Activities catalog is available for pickup at all Johnson County Library branches.
The Shawnee Mission Park Marina is scheduled to operate on the weekends of May 4 and 5, May 11 and 12, and May 18 and 19, prior to opening daily for the summer season beginning May 25.
The marina’s weekend hours will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, but note the last rentals each day will be at 6 p.m. The marina offers boat rentals, including canoes, pedal boats, kayaks, and paddleboards. The Shawnee Mission Park Marina accepts cash and credit cards, but not checks. Rental rates are listed on the district’s website at https://www.jcprd.com/Facilities/Facility/Details/Shawnee-Mission-Park-Marina-76. Fishing permits are also available at the marina.
Shawnee Mission Park is located at 7900 Renner Road in Shawnee and Lenexa. For more information, call (913) 888-1990 during business hours. You can also reach the marina's inclement weather line at (913) 686-6030 ext. 20.
Note that a temporary repair to address rotten roof beams discovered last year has been made to allow the marina to operate out of its usual location this spring and summer, and a full roof replacement to bring the marina back to its original design is scheduled this fall.
The Johnson County Park and Recreation District’s other marina operation at Kill Creek Park, which operates out of the park's beach, will also open for the summer season beginning May 25.
An intergenerational LEGO® event at the Roeland Park Community Center is the first in a new monthly Family Fun Series special event being planned by the Johnson County Park and Recreation District.
The Family Fun Series are designed to be monthly events where kiddos and their grown-ups can play, explore, and make memories together. To help JCPRD staff plan, participants are asked to register one week in advance of each event. To find these programs in the My JCPRD Activities catalog and online listings, browse first under fun for all then under special events. In the catalog and when using the website’s advanced search, look for the keyword “games.”
The first event in the series is the new LEGO® City Build Party, which will take place on Friday, May 3, at the Roeland Park Community Center, 4850 Rosewood Dr., Roeland Park. Participants are invited to bring their little engineers and create a community. Experts from Play-Well TEKnologies will bring thousands of LEGOs® to be used during the event. Dessert is included.
For each two-hour event in the Family Fun Series, the cost for individual admission is $10 per person for Johnson County residents or $11 per person for nonresidents. Two different family rates are also offered. For a family of up to four people, the cost is $30 for residents or $33 for nonresidents. For a family of up to seven people, the cost is $40 for residents or $44 for nonresidents. For more information or to register, call (913) 831-3359. To register online for the LEGO® City Build Party at www.jcprd.com, click on “Register for Activities,” and complete a course ID search for 18980.
Other upcoming events in the Family Fun Series will include: the new Super Sneaky Family Scavenger Hunt (course ID 18806) on June 21 at the Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse; S'More Family Geocaching (course ID 18985) on July 19 near Shawnee Mission Park's Shelter #2; and Family Bingo Night (course ID 18976) on Aug. 2 back at RPCC. The Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse is located at 9101 Nall Ave., Prairie Village, while Shawnee Mission Park is located at 7900 Renner Road, Shawnee and Lenexa.
The My JCPRD Activities catalog is available for pickup at all Johnson County Library branches.
Yoga Homeschool Nature Fitness is the name of this program, which is for ages six and older with a parent. In this class led by a certified youth yoga instructor, participants will combine the positive effects of being outdoors as they explore, hike, and try yoga along the trails. A short animal presentation will follow every session. All children must be accompanied by paying adult. In case of inclement weather, activities will be indoors.
To find these programs in the My JCPRD Activities catalog and online listings, browse first under youth and then under fitness & health. In the catalog and when using the website’s advanced search, look for the keyword “wellness.”
Each single-session offering of Yoga Homeschool Nature Fitness will meet at 10 a.m. on a Thursday in April, including April 4, April 11; April 18, and April 25. The cost for one one-hour program is $5 per person for Johnson County residents and $6 per person for nonresidents. For more information or to register, call (913) 831-3359 or to register online at www.jcprd.com, click on the dates listed above.
The Ernie Miller Nature Center is located at 909 N. Kansas 7 Highway, Olathe. Printed copies of the My JCPRD Activities catalog are available for pickup at all Johnson County Library branches.
The Johnson County Museum is a fascinating look at the history of our community. But the recent biggest draw for it has been “The Turbulent Twenties” exhibit and there is a good reason for it.
Want to see it? Well, the exhibit (and actually the entire museum) is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. There is still plenty of time to visit it. The exhibit opened toward the end of August of last year and will remain at the museum until May 11. This exhibit is celebrating a belated 100-year anniversary. It is also included in admission. If you want to see this part of the museum than you are in luck.
Not only that but there are several museum tours in February and there is even an event called Lunch and Learn. In this event you get to learn about 1920s fashions. Also, as the title suggests you get to bring your own lunch with you. If you want to know more information, check out the museum website
https://www.jcprd.com/330/Museum
This video will give you a preview of what you may see in it. Here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAdzs4ZkOUM&t=1s
Isaac Rankin
County Managers Office
Johnson County Government will again have an informational booth with its spin-to-win prize wheel during the Johnson County Old Settlers celebration in downtown Olathe this week. The booth will be located in front of the administration building from Sept. 6-8. The department of Emergency Management and Communications, Sheriff’s Office and Election Office will also have booths during the three-day festival, featuring the “Kansas largest parade” starting at 10 a.m. Saturday with a theme of “Love and Peace: A look back to the 1960s.”
This marks the 120th anniversary of Old Settlers, which started in 1898 with a downtown community picnic with a band, bubble gum blowing contests, watermelon seed spitting contests and sack races. Along with traditional horseshoe-pitching contests and an ice cream social, annual activities now include craft and food booths, carnival rides and bands as part of nightly live music.
Several streets around the county square will be closed during the event to accommodate activities, booths, the carnival and crowds of people. The downtown Olathe parking garage will be accessible to the general public.With rain in the forecast for the next several days, you may want to monitor the Old Settlers Facebook page for weather-related updates.
Johnson County Park and Recreation District’s 2018 Camp Guide is now available online, and hard copies are available in all Johnson County Libraries.
Registration for camps begin Monday, Jan. 29. Online registration starts at 6 a.m., and in-person registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at the JCPRD registration office located in Building D in Antioch Park at 6501 Antioch Road in Merriam.
Camp registrations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Many camps fill quickly, so don’t delay or you may find your first choices unavailable.
For faster, easier registration go to jcprd.com and create an account before searching or registering for camps.
In all, nearly 60 camp programs are listed in this year’s guide, including camps for ages 3 through 18. Camps range from full-day to partial-day programs serving a variety of interests, including more than 25 camps new in 2018.
Most full-day camps offer weekly sessions with weekly start dates from June 4 through July 30; other camps begin throughout the summer. This year’s camps take place at locations throughout Johnson County. For the convenience of working parents, most full-day programs provide supervision and self-directed activities from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Explore more than 40,000 historical photographs documenting the people, places and organizations of Johnson County, Kansas from the 19th century to the present!
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