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 History
At 75-acres, Jacob L. Loose Park is one of Kansas City's most popular, beautiful and historical. The park is well-known locally as being a major site for the Battle of Westport where Confederate forces were routed by Union forces in the area in which the park is now located. It is estimated that 29,000 people were involved in the battle. The property at that time was owned by William Bent, a man who led wagon trains and traded with the Indians. Seth Ward bought the property in 1871 after William Bent’s death. In 1896 a group of people, many of whom had been members of the golf club near Hyde Park, incorporated the Kansas City Country Club and signed a lease with Seth Ward to use part of his property as a golf course for $1 a year plus taxes. The property included what is now Loose Park and was used as a golf course until 1927. In 1926, Ella Loose bought the property from the Hugh Ward estate (the son of Seth Ward) so that it could be made into a park to honor her husband, Jacob Loose. She gave the property to the city in 1927. Jacob Loose founded the Loose-Wiles Biscuit Company, which produced Sunshine Biscuits and other products. He passed away in 1923.
Kansas City's municipal rose garden in Loose Park is the realization of a dream that began in 1931, when a group of citizens under the leadership of Laura Conyers Smith established the Kansas City Rose Society. The first garden contained 120 rose plants. Today, there are about 4,000 roses of nearly 150 varieties in the 1.5 acre garden. The garden recently underwent a $400,000 renovation project, which included planting 1,200 new roses and restoring the beds to the original plans.
A notable event in Loose Park was the Wrapped Walk Ways exhibit held in October 1978. Loose Park walkways were wrapped in gold fabric by artist Christo and his wife, Jeanne-Claude.
Amenities
Loose Park Garden Center, Japanese Tea Room, Loose Lake, reservable shelter house, four tennis courts and practice boards, sprayground, playground, 1.48-mile and 1.04-mile walking trails, picnic areas, rain garden, Stanley R. McLane Arboretum and the Laura Conyers Smith Rose Garden.
Ornamental Structures
The Battle of Westport Monument, located north of the Rose Garden, commemorates the location where Maj. Gen. Sterling Price, "The Old Fox" of the Confederate Army, was defeated and his forces sent into retreat to the territory of Arkansas. The 6-ton red granite marker was dedicated in October 1953.
The Monnett Battle Field Cannon and Markers were placed in 1990 in cooperation with the Monnett Battle Field Fund and the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas City.
A competition was held to select the sculptor for this wall fountain, and Jeannette Keline of Kansas City was awarded the commission. The Adam & Even Fountain was unveiled during the 1942 Rose Day celebration. The kneeling figures each hold bowls from which water tricked into keep retrain basins at the base of the niches. The water elements were eliminated in 1946.
The Jacob L. Loose Memorial honors Jacob Leander Loose for whom the park is named. The bronze statue, presented in 1941 by Mrs. Loose, is located at the main entrance to the park at 51st Street and Wornall Road.
Laura Conyers Smith Fountain is a pool fountain located in the Rose Garden. It was originally erected in 1979 and restored in 2002.
Location
Wornall Road and 51st Street
Map of Park
Download Loose Park Map and Brochure
Permits
Tree Exploration Guide
Download the Tree Exploration Guide and learn more about the Stanley R. McLane Arboretum.
 Caution: Feeding Waterfowl may be Harmful!
Regular feeding can cause dependency on people for food, conflicts with people and spread of disease.
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