Dorri Partain
Managing Editor

Since last summer, families headed to Budd Park’s southeast playground have been met with fencing and “Playground Closed” signage. The north playground, accessible from St. John Ave. has not been affected and remains open.

After residents questioned the playground’s closure, The Northeast News contacted Kansas City Parks & Recreation and received a response on August 28 that cited safety concerns as the specific reason for the closure and the supervisor and Planning Division were working to determine if the playground should be repaired or replaced.

Swings near the playground are still accessible and not included in this closure.

In March of this year, Indian Mound resident Sarah Kaldenberg visited Budd Park with her young daughter and was surprised to find the playground was still closed, but the fencing was haphazard and the equipment was still accessible for anyone wanting to enter.

Kaldenberg emailed the Parks department and eventually received this response March 26, which she forwarded to The Northeast News.

“The playground surface contains multiple foot entrapment and trip hazards. Additionally, there are several potential entanglement risks throughout the structure. Numerous components have been vandalized, rendering the playground unsafe for public use.”  

An additional reply from Deputy Director James Wang stated that the playground was slated to be removed and replaced with new structures in 2027.

This playground was added to the park in 2006 and has been a continual site for graffiti and trash. Concerned about the condition last year, Kaldenberg recruited several other mothers and neighbors to remove graffiti from the equipment on April 27, 2025.

“It kind of sucks that we spent time to clean it then a couple of months later they close it,” said Kaldenberg.

During a discussion about Budd park improvements at the April 20 meeting of the Indian Mound Neighborhood Association, several residents stated that children were still playing on the equipment, despite the signs and partial fencing.

In addition to replacing the southeast playground, several other improvements are slated for Budd Park in 2027. Jessica Blackwell, Senior Landscape Designer for Parks & Recreation, told meeting attendees that funding to improve the park’s pathways- from asphalt to concrete- as well as an ADA compliant access road to the historic stone shelterhouse and renovations to the long-shuttered shelter were approved and awaiting final designs.