An affordable and beautiful suburb of the Kansas City metropolitan area. With a population of 65,000 and covering 43 square miles, a highlight is the 1,600-acre Shawnee Mission Park which includes a 120-acre lake. There is occasionally confusion over Shawnee and Shawnee Mission. To clarify, Shawnee Mission, Kansas is a name created by the United States Postal Service to denote an area of Johnson County, Kansas that contains numerous towns, including Shawnee.

 

Several notable figures coming from Shawnee are comedian Chris Porter, professional golfer Gary Woodland, and Julie Myers, the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

 

The Parks and Recreation Department oversees more than 1010 acres of city parks, Shawnee Town 1929 Museum, the Civic Centre, and the City’s two state-of-the-art aquatic facilities. Over 500 classes, programs, and special events are offered for youth, adults, and seniors.

 

 

Tomahawk Hills Golf Course, built in 1910, is the oldest golf course in the metropolitan area and ranks as one of the area’s most challenging public courses. Shawnee Golf and Country Club is Kansas City’s most affordable 27-hole Championship Golf Course, designed by Lyndy Lindsey.

 

 

Wonderscope provides fun, dynamic exhibits and programs that integrate the arts, sciences, and literature for children 10 and under, their parents, and teachers from across the Kansas City area. LEARN PLAY GROW communicates the museum’s belief that children learn best through play and that through fun, imaginative, hands-on learning, they can grow to their fullest potential.

 

 

Shawnee Mission Park is a multi-use, 1,600-acre park is located at 79th and Renner Road in Shawnee. It is the largest park in Johnson County and the most visited park in the entire state of Kansas. The park is home to numerous amenities as well as a beautiful 120-acre lake which is a popular spot for boating, fishing, and sailboarding with canoes, pedal boats, and fishing boats available for rent at the marina. The park has 11 spacious shelters, picnic areas, nature trails, play areas, an archery range, a 53-acre dog off-leash area, a disc golf course, and a place to enjoy mountain biking and horseback riding. A summer tradition that keeps audiences entertained year after year is The Theatre in the Park. It is tucked away on 10 beautiful acres in the park. This outdoor amphitheater presents Broadway musicals, concerts, and a variety of events.

 

Shawnee Town 1929 is a living history museum that is a division of the City of Shawnee’s Parks and Recreation department. Visitors can experience a typical day in and around the 1920s farm community of Shawnee through authentic collections, exhibits, programs, and events. From March through October visitors can stroll through buildings and grounds featuring a farmstead, barbershop, typewriter repair shop, grocery store, funeral home, and cabinet maker. Costumed interpreters bring the era to life through a variety of programs and activities during special events and school group visits. Shawnee Town’s Visitors Center features a permanent exhibit on display, “Old Town, New City.”

 

 

In 2010, Shawnee was recognized by Money Magazine in its annual “Best Places To Live” survey, placing 17th in the United States. Shawnee was recognized for its affordable housing and median commute time. Whether it is a leisurely stroll on a walking trail, sailing on Shawnee Mission Park Lake, or eating at the numerous restaurants, these resources play a major role in making Shawnee one of the most “liveable” communities nationwide.