Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead

State: Kansas. Type: 12-acre municipal children's farm attraction operated by the City of Overland Park at 13800 Switzer Road, Overland Park, KS 66221. Opened Memorial Day weekend 1978 (originally Community Park); renamed May 27, 1985 to honor Deanna Rose, Overland Park's first police officer killed in the line of duty. Open seasonally, April through October.

Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead is a 12-acre, turn-of-the-century-style working farm attraction run by the City of Overland Park, Kansas. The city acquired the land in 1971 as Community Park, and the Farmstead opened to the public on Memorial Day weekend 1978 with modest early attractions. It was renamed in 1985 to honor Deanna Rose, the first Overland Park police officer to die in the line of duty, and has since grown through several expansions, including a new entrance building in 2009 and the Ben Craig administration building in 2018. The farmstead recreates a historic Kansas farm setting complete with a one-room schoolhouse, a Kanza Indian encampment, a blacksmith shop and a general store, alongside a large collection of farm and wild animals visitors can view and, in some cases, feed. It draws heavily on hands-on, family-oriented programming, from bottle-feeding baby goats to wagon rides pulled by Belgian draft horses, making it a signature family attraction in the Kansas City metro area.

The farmstead is located at 13800 Switzer Road in Overland Park, Kansas, a suburb in the Kansas City metropolitan area, within a larger city park originally established in 1971.

Overland Park has a humid continental climate with hot, humid summers and cold winters, consistent with the Kansas City metro area. Specific seasonal figures for the farmstead were not confirmed from the sources fetched for this destination.

The farmstead is open seasonally from April through October, so any visit falls within spring, summer or early fall; weekday afternoons after 2 p.m. (Monday-Thursday, excluding certain holidays) offer free admission and may be less crowded than weekend mornings.

The City of Overland Park acquired the farmstead's land in 1971, initially developing it as Community Park. The Farmstead itself opened to the public on Memorial Day weekend in 1978 with a modest set of attractions. On May 27, 1985, the site was renamed Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead in honor of Deanna Rose, the first Overland Park police officer to die in the line of duty. The attraction underwent major expansions beginning in 2000, added a new entrance building in 2009, and completed the Ben Craig administration building in 2018, reflecting its growth into one of the region's most visited family attractions.

Activities include feeding farm animals, bottle-feeding baby goats, watching cow-milking and blacksmith demonstrations, fishing at a stocked pond, goat yoga sessions, and wagon rides pulled by Belgian draft horses. Multiple playgrounds (including Morgan's Playground and a pedal tractor track), gem sifting, an ice cream parlor, nature trails and vintage photo opportunities round out the visit; a dairy barn hosts educational theater programming on Kansas dairy history.

Highlights include the one-room schoolhouse, a Kanza Indian encampment exhibit, the blacksmith shop, a general store, and the dairy barn with its educational programming. Animal areas showcase birds of prey, bison, bobcats, prairie dogs, rabbits, ducks, geese, cattle, goats, pigs, turkeys, chickens and peafowl.

The farmstead is located in Overland Park, a Kansas City metro suburb, easily reached by car via the area's interstate network (I-435 and nearby highways). Kansas City International Airport, roughly 30-40 miles north, is the nearest major airport for out-of-town visitors, who typically rent a car for the drive to Overland Park.

The Farmstead is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 1 through October 31, according to city tourism information; hours may vary for special events and holidays, so checking the current schedule before visiting is recommended.

As of research, general admission was $5 per person for ages 3 and up, with children 2 and under free. Admission is free after 2 p.m. Monday-Thursday, except on Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day and Labor Day. Some individual activities (such as pony or wagon rides) may carry additional fees; confirm current pricing on the City of Overland Park's website.

Most families spend two to four hours at the farmstead, given the number of animal areas, activities and playgrounds to explore.

Overland Park, part of the greater Kansas City metro area, has a wide range of hotel chains suited to family travel, particularly along its major commercial corridors. Specific nearby properties were not confirmed from the sources fetched.

The farmstead has an on-site ice cream parlor, and Overland Park's surrounding commercial areas offer a broad range of family-friendly restaurants typical of a large Kansas City suburb. Specific restaurant names were not confirmed from the sources fetched.

The farmstead sits within a larger Overland Park city park complex; the wider Kansas City metro area offers additional family attractions, museums and shopping within a short drive.

Kansas City International Airport, roughly 30-40 miles north, is the nearest major airport; a rental car or rideshare is the practical way to reach Overland Park, since the farmstead is best accessed by personal vehicle.

Because the farmstead involves close contact with animals, follow posted hand-washing and feeding guidelines to reduce disease risk, especially for young children. Supervise children closely around animal pens, water features (the fishing pond) and the wagon-ride areas. For any emergency, dial 911.

Comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, hand sanitizer or wipes for after animal encounters, and a change of clothes for young children are all worth bringing given the hands-on, outdoor nature of the visit.

Visit after 2 p.m. on a Monday through Thursday (excluding certain summer holidays) for free admission, per the farmstead's published fee policy. Because the farmstead is seasonal (April-October), plan trips within that window and check the current schedule for any special-event closures or extended hours.

Dial 911 for any emergency. The farmstead's general contact number is (913) 897-2360, per Overland Park tourism information.

City of Overland Park - Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead - https://www.opkansas.gov/deanna-rose-childrens-farmstead

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.