Kansas City, MO

Powell Gardens
Located on 915 beautiful acres, this botanical garden features an 18,000-square-foot Visitor Education Center to house a glass-topped conservatory, gift shop, café and a year-round calendar of events and classes for the entire family; the 12-acre lake and colorful Perennial Garden features more than 6,000 plants; 3-mile Byron Shultz Nature & Hiking Trail leads visitors past frog-filled ponds, through woods of honey locust and into a field of meadow flowers; Discover the Island Garden -- a 2-acre oasis of cascading water gardens, secluded gardens and a 600-foot "living" rock wall, the largest of its kind in North America; Rock and Waterfall Garden features a dramatic collection of ornamental trees, shrubs and perennials interspersed with native woods, meandering brooks and waterfalls; small admission fee; 609 Northwest US Highway 50, Kingsville, MO; 816-697-2600; http://www.powellgardens.org

Satchel Paige Memorial Stadium
Brought to fruition after his death and named in commemoration of one of baseball’s greatest pitchers, Paige played in the Negro National Leagues for the Kansas City Monarchs and other teams; In 1948 he broke into major league baseball with the Cleveland Indians in his 40s; when he threw his last professional pitch in the major leagues he was an astonishing 63; the stadium is used for amateur play and special events; 51st and Swope Parkway; 816-871-3100

Swope Park
With almost 1,800 acres, the park is one of the nation's largest urban parks; features a swimming pool, Kansas City Zoo, two 18-hole public golf courses and the Starlight Theatre; Swope Park & Meyer Blvd; Swope Park

Leon M. Jordan Memorial Park
Dedicated to a slain Kansas City civil rights leader and one of the Founders of Freedom, a well known African American community organization; 31st and Benton

Jacob Loose Park
Featuring a miniature lake, footbridge, walking paths, rose garden and romantic setting; just south of the Country Club Plaza; Broadway and Brush Creek Blvd

Merriam, KS

Esther E. Brown Memorial Park
Brown organized citizen support in the South Park community for litigation leading to the 1949 Kansas Supreme Court order admitting African American children to the South park school and to nearby high schools.  This White Jewish homemaker became involved in civil rights after being alarmed by conditions at schools for African American students; 50th Terrace and England; 913-722-3330