Kansas City-area pools prepare to open for summer, but there are changes

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - It’s time to dive into Kansas City area pools and swimming lakes.

While many plan to operate as they have for years, visitors to other locations may be caught off guard by changes.

Here’s what you need to know before you grab a beach towel and head to the water.

KANSAS

FAIRWAY

Fairway Pool is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, but hours are shorter when school is in session.

The pool is located next to Neale Peterson Park at 62nd and Mission Road, and has the following features:

• A large shade/sun deck
• A swimming pool with two designated lap lanes, high and low diving boards and a new zipline.
• A zero depth area for toddlers featuring dumping buckets and and a toddler slide.
• A snack bar
• Two family changing rooms.
• Nine large shade structures

KANSAS CITY, KAN.

The only public swimming pool in Kansas City will reopen for the 2025 summer season.

Parkwood Pool says it has enough lifeguards and will welcome swimmers back starting May 24.

In addition, KCKPS Nutritional Services will be serving free lunch and a snack Tuesday through Friday at Parkwood Pool. The lunches will begin on Tuesday, June 7 and end Friday, July 29, according to the pool’s website.

LENEXA

Choose your Lenexa pool and cannonball into the summer.

Sar-Ko-Par Aquatic Center

The Lenexa pool is located in Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park near 87th Street Parkway and Greenway Lane.

It offers a climbable play feature with a dump bucket, a lazy river, diving boards, climbing walls, and water slides.

Sar-Ko-Par Aquatic Center is open for the summer season from May 24–Sept. 1, 2025.

Ad Astra Pool

Ad Astra Pool IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND WILL NOT BE OPEN IN 2025. It is expected to reopen in May 2026.

Flat Rock Creek Pool

Flat Rock Creek is a smaller pool located near 103rd Street and Pflumm Road.

It offers in-water benches, in-water shade structures, a diving board, climbing rock wall, and a spray feature.

MISSION

Fun for the entire family is offered at Mission Family Aquatic Center. The facility is located at 6200 Martway Street.

The pool is scheduled to open May 24 through August 8. Guests are welcome during the following hours:

• Monday-Saturday
  • 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Sunday
  • 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The public is invited to use the splash pad at the aquatic center Monday through Thursday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

The splash pad is included with the price of aquatic center entry during business hours.

OLATHE

Olathe public swimming pools will open for the season on May 26. There are several options available.

• Black Bob Bay
  • 14570 W. 151st Street
  • 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
    • Two raft water slides
    • Shallow water play structures
    • Family changing room
    • Dive well with two 1-meter diving boards and two 3-meter diving boards
    • 50-meter pool with designated lap lane
    • Baby pool
• Frontier Pool
  • 15909 W. 127th Street
  • 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
    • Water slide
    • Zero-depth entry
    • Dive well
    • Spray features
    • Lap pool
• Mill Creek Pool
  • 320 E. Popular Street
  • 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday
  • 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
    • Water slide
    • Zero-depth entry
    • Dive well
    • Spray features
    • Lap pool
• Oregon Trail Pool
  • 1750 W. Dennis Avenue
  • 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday
  • 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday-Sunday
    • Water slide
    • Zero-depth entry
    • Dive well
    • Spray features
    • Lap pool
• Lake Olathe Beach
  • 445 S. Ward Cliff Dr.
  • 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday-Saturday
    • Locker rooms
    • Outdoor showers
    • Concessions
    • Marina boat rentals
    • Floating obstacle course

More information about everything Olathe has to offer can be found on the City of Olathe’s website.

OVERLAND PARK

The city plans to open three outdoor pools for the summer, which is a change from past years.

The city permanently closed Bluejacket Pool in August 2024.

Each of the following locations will be open from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily starting Sunday, May 25.

• Stonegate Pool
  • 9701 Antioch
• Tomahawk Ridge Aquatic Center
  • 11950 Lowell
• Young’s Pool
  • 8421 W. 77th St.

Overland Park also offers adaptive splash for swimmers with different abilities and their families. The calmer pool environment is held at Tomahawk Ridge Aquatic Center from 9-11 a.m. on select Saturdays.

Splash Pads

In addition to swimming pools, Overland Park offers splash pads in the following parks:

• Thompson Park
  • 8045 Santa Fe Drive
• Roe Park
  • 10400 Roe
• Sapling Grove Park
  • 8210 Grant

The splash pads are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through September 30.

PRAIRIE VILLAGE

The Prairie Village pool is located at 7711 Delmar.

It opens for the summer on May 24.

The pool features two water slides, a dive pool and plunge slide, pool deck area, zero-depth entrance to leisure and baby pools.

ROELAND PARK

Roeland Park is ready to dive into another summer at the city’s aquatic center.

The facility is located at 4883 Rosewood Drive and features a spray area, slide, diving board, climbing wall, lap lanes and an enclosed slide tower.

Pool rules and hours are online at RoelandPark.org.

SHAWNEE

Shawnee plans to kick off summer by opening the Thomas A. Soetaert Aquatic Center for the season.

The pool will open May 24 and will operate on the following schedule through August 10:

• Baby Pool
  • Monday - Friday
    • 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
• Open Swim
  • Monday - Friday
    • 12:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
  • Saturday & Sunday
    • 12:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
  • Holiday Hours
    • 12:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Hours change when school begins in August.

JOHNSON COUNTY

Johnson County plans to open two beaches over the Memorial Day weekend.

• Shawnee Mission Park Beach
  • 7900 Renner Road, Shawnee
  • May 24-August 10
    • Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
    • Tuesdays & Thursdays: 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
    • Saturdays & Sundays: 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
• Kill Creek Park Beach
  • 11670 Homestead Lane

MISSOURI

BLUE SPRINGS

Blue Surf Bay will open in Blue Springs for the summer season on May 23. It will be open limited hours while school remains in session.

The city said a limited number of day es will be sold daily based on demand and the number of using the facility.

People who live outside of their service area will only be able to buy es on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The number of es available is based on demand that day.

Anyone visiting the facility for the first time, even as a guest, needs to set up an before accessing the park. More information is available through Blue Springs.

Splash Pads

Blue Springs also offers a splash pad at Burrus Old Mill Park for the public to use during the summer months.

INDEPENDENCE

Residents in Independence will have to travel if they want to dive into a public pool this summer.

The city decided to permanently close Adventure Oasis and it will not open in 2025. The reasons behind the decision are outlined on the city’s website.

The city’s two water playgrounds will open as planned for the summer.

• McCoy Park
• Rotary Park

The spray parks are open daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

The parks are closed Monday mornings for maintenance.

JACKSON COUNTY

Swimming beaches in Jackson County celebrate summer by opening for the Memorial Day Weekend.

Blue Springs Lake Beach and Longview Lake Beach officially open for the season Saturday, May 24.

The swimming beaches will be open the following hours:

• Weekends
  • 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Weekdays
  • 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

ission is $9 for adults and $7 for children ages 3-15 and seniors 65+.

Jackson County will also host Sand Cinema throughout the summer.

• Disney’s MOANA – Friday, June 6
• Disney’s MUFASA – Friday, July 11
• Disney Pixar’s INSIDE OUT 2 – Friday, August 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo.

Kansas City offers residents a number of pool or splash parks as options for fun and to cool off during the summer.

All of the pools open Memorial Day weekend. Here are your options:

• Brush Creek Community Pool
  • 3801 Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd.
    • 12 p.m.– 7 p.m.
• Budd Park Pool
  • 5600 Budd Park Esplanade St.
    • 12 p.m.– 7 p.m.
• Grove Park Pool
  • 1500 Benton Blvd
    • 12 p.m.– 7 p.m.
• The Bay Water Park
  • 7101 Longview Rd
    • 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.
• Line Creek Pool
  • 5940 NW Waukomis Dr.
    • 12 p.m. - 7 p.m.
• Springs Aquatic Center
  • 9400 N. Congress Ave,
    • 12 p.m. - 8 p.m.

RAYTOWN

The community is invited to River Community Pool at River Church in Raytown.

It is located at 7130 Ralston Ave. and opens Memorial Day weekend.

Daily hours are:

• Monday
  • 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday
  • 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Sunday
  • 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

LEE’S SUMMIT

Lee’s Summit will have three splash parks in addition to Summit Waves opening this summer.

Summit Waves opens for the season on May 24.

• Children must be accompanied by an adult (18+)
• Must be 18 or older to buy tickets

Summit Waves will be open from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. only on May 27-30 and June 2.

Regular weekday hours begin Tuesday, June 3:

• Monday-Friday
  • 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Saturday-Sunday
  • 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Additional information is available on the Summit Waves website.

Splash Pads

Lee’s Summit’s splash pads are located at:

• Miller J. Fields Park Splash Pad
  • 1301 SE 3rd Ter.
• Howard Park Splash Pad
  • 3498 NE Independence
• Lea Mckeigan North Park Splash Pad
  • 120 NE Chipman Rd.

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