Lenexa’s Best-Kept Secret (Until I Started Loudly Telling Everyone About It)

Gentle Reader, NJ and I are always looking for little things to do on a weekend. You know, low cost mini adventures. One of our favorite things to do is jump in the car and head off for a day trip somewhere we didn't know was right in our backyard.

So Where Is It This Time?

This time, I'm gonna tell you about Black Hoof Park at Lenexa Lake.  Black Hoof Park is named after Shawnee Chief Thomas Quaskey “Black Hoof”, a respected leader who signed the 1854 treaty between the Shawnee Nation and the U.S. government. The city of Lenexa itself is named after his wife, Na‑Nex‑Se, also known as Len‑Ag‑See. So when you visit Black Hoof Park, you're walking through land that carries generations of local Shawnee heritage. Take a look at this drone tour.

There's a great kids area, too. It's near a spot called Becker’s Woodland. The playground is basically a kid’s dream and a parent’s cardio workout. One of the coolest features? A natural play area. Yes, like the Wonder Twins, nature and fun have joined forces! There’s a play stream (it runs daily for eight glorious splashy hours from May through mid-October), a giant sandbox, a hide-and-seek zone designed by Mother Nature herself, and spots for log hopping and boulder climbing that’ll make your kid feel like a junior parkour expert.

via GIPHY

The playground is divided into three different play sets to match your child’s age and energy level. For the little adventurers (think toddlers and preschool ages), there’s a set with tot swings, tiny slides, monkey bars, and bridges that won’t give you a heart attack. For the older kids (think kindergarten through sixth grade), there are two epic zones packed with slides, climbing towers, zip lines, monkey bars, spinners, swings, rings, and enough bridges to start their own neighborhood alliance.

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The ground’s covered in wood mulch, which is great for cushiony landings and makes your car smell faintly like a hardware store. Except for the sandbox, which.....well, is sand. Prepare to find some of it in your shoes, your car, and probably your hair.

What About the Adults?

Don’t worry, there’s so much to do, you guys.  It’s like nature's amusement park, but without the lines or the $12 pretzels.
First up: fishing! Yep, you can cast a line in one of the lakes, and if you’ve got a boat (as long as it’s not gas-powered - sorry, speed demons), you’re good to go. Got a battery-powered propeller or just a good set of arms and a paddle? You're golden.
But if hauling your own gear sounds like a you problem, fear not: they rent kayaks and paddleboards right there. So you can look sporty and outdoorsy without actually owning any of the equipment. A win for both your Instagram and your garage space.

Lake Lenexa is stocked with all the usual finned suspects: channel catfish, black crappie, bluegill, sunfish, and largemouth bass. Basically, it’s a fish buffet and your line is the invitation. And yes, you do need a fishing license. But you already knew that. You’re responsible. Probably.
Oh! And did I mention the fire pit? Because there’s a fire pit. So even if your fishing trip turns into a scenic bobber-watching session, you can still roast marshmallows and pretend you totally meant to do that.
You can find some more info all over the web, but here's a good link.

Hoofingly yours,
Behka