Clay County Parks

Big Shoal Greenway, Antioch Road to North Brighton Avenue, (816) 513-7500; 95 acres; ball diamonds and picnic acres.

Englewood Park, Englewood Road and North Troost, (816) 513-7500; 51 acres; ball diamonds, picnic acres and a lake with restroom facilities.

Fishing River Linear Park, 25 acres on the banks of Fishing River from the parking lot at Marietta Street Bridge to Golf Hill Bridge in Excelsior Springs, (816) 630-1040 ; trail passes behind the Historic Hall of Waters and the historic Superior Pagoda and newer Spring Pagoda; offering playground equipment for children, lighted baseball/softball diamond.

Happy Rock Park, 76th Street and North Antioch Road, Gladstone, (816) 436-2200; 80 acres; playgrounds, fitness trails, soccer fields, tennis courts, baseball fields and beautiful open land.

Hodge Park, 7000 N.E. Barry Road, (816) 513-7500; at 801 acres, Kansas City’s second largest park; Shoal Creek Heritage Village, a collection of 19th century buildings and living history museum with re-enactments four times a year; golf course, native animal enclosure with elk, buffalo and blacktail deer; eight ball diamonds, three lakes, shelter and amphitheater, picnic areas and restrooms.

Lakewood Greenway, I-35 to N.E. Vivion Road, parallel to North Avenue (816) 513-7500; 67 acres with playgrounds, baseball diamond, two lakes, exercise trail, shelter and picnic benches.

Rocky Hollow Park, between Kearney and Excelsior Springs on Highway 92, (816) 532-0803; 60 acres with 24-acre fishing lake, walking trails, ball diamonds and picnic shelters.

Siloam Mountain Park, off Garland Street in Excelsior Springs, (816) 630-1040; 25 acres with large pavilions, playground equipment, benches, picnic tables, barbecue grills and great view of Excelsior Springs.

Smithville Lake and Recreation Area, northeast of Smithville on U.S. 169 and Missouri 92 (816) 432-0803; 7,200-acre lake with park land including two marinas, restaurant, 175 miles of shore line, boat ramps, sailboats, fishing, water skiing, beaches, 200 picnic sites, 11 shelters, more than 700 campsites, backpacking, a 3,000-acre waterfowl refuge, trapshooting, two public golf courses and undeveloped acres open for public hunting. A cooperative effort between city, county and federal governments, Smithville Lake last year welcomed nearly 2 million visitors. Jerry L. Litton Visitor Center, (816) 532-0174.

Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary, 407 N. Lafrenz, Liberty, (816) 781-8598; 100 acres of protective environment for wildlife and plants; four miles of hiking trails; nature center with programs.

Tryst Falls, five miles east of Kearney on Highway 92, (816) 532-0803; 40 acres with scenic waterfall, two shelters, picnic benches and baseball diamond.

Water Well Athletic Complex, Missouri Highway 9 and North Broadway, (816) 513-7500; 66 acres with five ball diamonds (four lit).

Watkins Mill State Park, six miles east of Kearney on Highway 92, (816) 296-3357; 1,289 acres including reconstructed 19th century woolen mill with outbuildings and house; 100-acre lake for boats and canoes, fishing and swimming; bicycling, hiking, playgrounds, picnic areas, campsites with laundry and showers. Unusual combination of southern plantation culture with beginnings of the industrial era. Tours.