LocationNorth Vivion Road and North Norton AvenueCouncil District1 |
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Park DistrictNorthYear Acquired1998 |
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Acres3.42 |
Penguin Park began as part of Lakewood Greenway, an area acquired by the Parks Department in 1957. Vernon Jones, the Kansas City North parks district supervisor, created and built figures for Santa’s Wonderland in Gillham Park. After another employee made a miniature penguin for Santa’s Wonderland, Jones decided to build a large penguin in 1965. The penguin was placed on the northern area of Lakewood Greenway and was a hit. Jones created other animals for the site, such as a giraffe, elephant and kangaroo. He continued to create other figures for Santa’s Wonderland at the northern park and Gillham Park, as well as other figures and more conservative work for the Parks Department, such as repairs to columns.
While unofficially known as “Penguin Park” for years, the corner of Lakewood Greenway was officially renamed Penguin Park in December 1998.
Learn more about the history and creator of Penguin Park in this KCUR story.
Number of Tables: 10
Seating Capacity: 60
Total Capacity: 100
Electricity: Yes
Playground: Yes
Restroom Facilities: Building
Water Hydrants/ Fountain: Yes
Grills: 4
Lights: Yes
Rental Fee (Monday – Friday): $69
Rental Fee (Weekends/ Holiday): $100
Nearly 200 hundred years after the area’s first fur trading post was settled on the bluffs of the Missouri River, Kansas City is preparing to honor the French pioneer Francois Chouteau who established it, and the Native Americans with whom he traded. Francois Chouteau...
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