09/30/2026
What do you think of the Overland Park Playbook Plan?
Overland Park City Council adopted Playbook OP, the city's 10 year plan for parks, trails and pools, on Monday, September 28. 🏊
The plan lays out about $356.9 million in capital projects over the next decade. The city says it has about $108.8 million available at current funding levels, which leaves a gap of roughly $248.1 million. How to cover it is still undecided.
What the plan includes:
🏊 Renovating or replacing the city's regional pools, Young's Pool and Tomahawk Ridge Aquatic Center, plus the pool at Matt Ross Community Center
💦 New water play features
🌳 A new regional park of about 35 acres, plus more community and neighborhood parks in southern Overland Park
🚲 Expanded trail links and greenways
🛝 At least one universally accessible playground in each of the city's north, central and south regions
🌷 Continued reinvestment in the Arboretum and Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
Pools were the sticking point. In the city's own survey, 62% of respondents said they'd prefer more neighborhood pools, while 31% favored larger regional pools. Under the plan, Stonegate Pool will not be renovated and will run out its remaining useful life. The city told KSHB the regional model costs about $24 million less than a neighborhood pool model.
The plan passed with three council members opposed: Drew Mitrisin, Melissa Cheatham and Richard Borlaza. Council members also debated a new sales tax of one eighth, one quarter or three eighths of a cent to pay for the plan, and pushed that decision to a Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, October 5.
Should Overland Park build more neighborhood pools or focus on bigger regional ones? Let us know in the comments.
