Parks & Nature
Independence is a bustling city (the fifth largest in Missouri!), but it’s also dotted with parks, nature trails and lush green spaces that offer picturesque and relaxing ways to spend a day.
The city’s size — nearly 78 square miles — means there’s plenty of room for meandering trails that showcase the city’s more rural surroundings, a fitting feature for a city whose journey began at the juncture of three key historic trails. Several present-day nature trails — including the Little Blue Trace Trail and George Owens Nature Park — are open year-round, giving repeat visitors a chance to experience seasonal changes to the terrain and its wildlife residents.
Two Independence parks, including Santa Fe Park and McCoy Park, pay tribute to the city’s pioneering roots. At Santa Fe Park, you can see wagon ruts made from travel along the Santa Fe, California and Oregon trails nearly 200 years ago. And at McCoy Park, an accessible playground mimics the design of a mining town, giving kids a chance to learn and play at the same time.
Parks are so beloved in Independence that you can also find them in the midst of bustling commercial districts. Waterfall Park awaits across the street from Bass Pro Shops, complete with an 18-acre lake that’s an ideal setting for an impromptu picnic lunch.
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