PRAIRIE VILLAGE, Kan. — Negotiations are underway to turn a former country club into one of the largest parks in Johnson County. Most of the former Meadowbrook Golf Club may become a public park in a densely developed part of Johnson County that needs green space.
People in this area have long told county leaders they’d like to see more trails for walking and biking, and safe green spaces where their kids can play.
The golf club closed last year after being acquired by Van Trust Real Estate. It’s zoned for single family homes and some new homes are expected to be built here, but county leaders say they were happy to learn that developers also want much of the property preserved as parkland.
“We long felt that the Northeast longed for green space,” said Jill Geller, executive director of Johnson County Parks and Recreation. “There isn’t a lot of open area. That part of the county developed early in the county’s history before the parks and recreation district was even formed. So the opportunity to have a big piece of green space would be a great benefit to the residents.”
Right now the only county park within the I-435 loop is Antioch Park at 65th and Antioch. If Meadowbrook is developed into a public park, it could become twice as large as Antioch.
A formal announcement is expected later this month to showcase plans for the 136 acres.
