Dorri Partain
Managing Editor

As Kansas City’s Parks & Recreation opened pools and splashgrounds for the summer season on Saturday, May 23, one local pool remains closed and may not reopen by the end of the summer.

As families head out for summer fun— to splash, dive and dunk— Budd Park’s pool is eerily quiet, filled with rain water, branches and attracting birds, much like a giant birdbath.

In a statement provided by Toni Zibert, Public Information & Content Specialist for KC Parks, repairs and a timeline for reopening are unknown this early in the pool season.

“Unfortunately, due to multiple break-ins and large-scale vandalism resulting in damage to critical maintenance systems, Budd Park Pool will be inoperative until further notice,” stated Zibert in an email.

“We are looking into repairs and will have a more definitive timeline for reopening soon. Most likely, due to the scale of the damage, the pool will probably be closed for the rest of the summer. However, I can’t confirm that yet.”

At Lykins Square Park (4115 E. 7th St.) the sprayground has reopened, after vandalism in late summer 2024 closed the sprayground for the entirety of the 2025 pool season. This free sprayground is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., now through Sept. 7.

Another free sprayground is open adjacent to the playground at the Garrison Community Center, 1124 E. 5th St., in the Columbus Park neighborhood. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Grove Pool at 3001 E. Truman Rd. is open daily from 12 to 6 p.m., with numerous options for day, family and season passes. Day passes are $5 for anyone over the age of two, a 5-punch pass is $15 and season passes start at $25.

Completely refurbished last year with $194,000 in improvements, Grove Pool features a two-story slide, poolside umbrellas and lounge chairs, changing rooms, concessions, and sparkling clean cold water.

For an indoor/outdoor option, Gregg/Klice Community Center (1600 Buck O’Neal Way) offers a free sprayground and an indoor pool for inclement weather swimming. 

For more than 100 years, since the first wading pool opened in 1917, Budd Park Pool has been a multi-generational location for summer-cooling fun. Despite its current closure due to vandalism, the Parks Department is committed to providing state of the art swimming facilities accessible to all city residents.

For more pool locations and pass options, visit www.kcparks.org.