Swope Park

A double-edged donation: KCQ investigates the Swope Park land gift

<p>Interest in Kansas City’s Swope Park continues to percolate as the weather warms and in the wake of a recent <a href="https://kclibrary.org/kcq" target="_blank">What’s Your KCQ?</a> look at the history of the 1,805-acre expanse of green space. It was 126 years ago that real estate tycoon Thomas H. Swope donated the land to the city. A follow-up KCQ questioner wonders: What inspired his generosity? The answer is a little complicated and may surprise you.</p>
Author
Sara DeCaro

Interest in Kansas City’s Swope Park continues to percolate as the weather warms and in the wake of a recent What’s Your KCQ? look at the history of the 1,805-acre expanse of green space. It was 126 years ago that real estate tycoon Thomas H. Swope donated the land to the city. A follow-up KCQ questioner wonders: What inspired his generosity? The answer is a little complicated and may surprise you.

KCQ rapid response: Swope Park edition

KCQ rapid response: Swope Park edition

Spring has arrived, and winter-weary Kansas Citians have once again turned their attention to the great outdoors. The What’s Your KCQ? team, a collaboration between the Kansas City Public Library and The Kansas City Star, have been inundated with questions about the crown jewel of the KC Parks system: Swope Park. To keep readers satisfied, we’re taking on five inquiries for this week’s rapid response edition.

Swope Park’s Swinging Bridge - What's Your KC Q?

Black and white photo of a small suspension bridge
Author
Michael Wells
Imagine for a moment that you’re enjoying a pleasant day at the Kansas City Zoo. You’ve seen lions, tigers and even a swimming polar bear. You notice a path leading away from the main trail and what looks like a bridge straight out of Jurassic Park. As you cross, taking in the muddy water of the Blue River, the undisturbed forest covering its banks, and maybe even noises from some unseen critters down below, the span gently sways. Suddenly, a mass of rowdy sixth-grade field trippers joins your crossing and seems to be jumping – jumping! – in unison.