Jacob L. Loose Memorial Park — always called Loose Park — is Kansas City’s signature Plaza-area urban park, 75 acres of formal plantings, a rose garden, a central lake, and an accessible main walking loop just south of the Country Club Plaza shopping district. For visitors who want a calm outdoor break between Plaza destinations, Loose Park is the natural choice, and the scooter-accessible paved paths cover the most-visited features.
How We Serve Loose Park Visitors
The park is free and open to the public — no reservation or coordination needed. Scooter delivery lands at your Plaza-area hotel (Marriott Plaza, InterContinental, Embassy Suites Plaza, Sheraton Suites Plaza, The Fontaine, The Raphael, Cascade, Truitt) ahead of your check-in. From any Plaza hotel, Loose Park is a 5-10 minute roll south on Wornall Road.
About the Park
Loose Park was opened in the 1920s on the site of the Civil War Battle of Westport. Today it offers:
- Central lake — with paved perimeter paths
- Rose Garden — 135+ rose varieties, peak bloom early summer, accessible paved surround
- Tennis courts and recreation areas — active Park-and-Rec use
- Formal plantings throughout — seasonal bulb beds, mature tree canopy, picnic areas
- Civil War battlefield markers — interpretive signage at multiple points
The park feels like a neighborhood park rather than a tourism destination — that’s its appeal. A 30-60 minute visit turns it from “stop” into “memorable pause in a KC trip.”
Accessibility
Paved accessible paths:
- Main loop around the central lake
- Paths surrounding and through the Rose Garden
- Path access to the accessible restroom facility
- Paths to the picnic pavilions
Unpaved (harder for scooter use):
- Some wooded side trails
- The southern lawn areas
The paved portions cover the park’s most-visited features; wooded side trails are for dedicated walkers. Scooter users comfortably experience the park’s highlights via the paved loop.
Pairing the Visit
With Plaza shopping — Plaza morning, Loose Park mid-day break, Plaza afternoon and dinner. The classic Plaza-area itinerary pattern.
With the Nelson-Atkins Museum — short roll east. Museum morning, park afternoon.
With the Kauffman Memorial Garden — short roll east. Garden + park together make an excellent outdoor mid-day break between Plaza-area destinations.
As a photo-destination during Rose Garden peak (early summer) — the formal rose plantings are one of Kansas City’s best photo destinations during peak bloom.