$1 million Lenexa park revamp will give KC-area skaters of all ages a chance to ride

Kansas City-area residents looking to catch some air are in luck – Lenexa’s skatepark will receive a major update with a vintage twist.

The skatepark within Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park is getting a $1.1 million revamp, including more space for skateboarding, BMXing and inline skating, along with street plazas for gathering.

But the spotlight on skating in Lenexa reaches decades back, according to Logan Wagler, director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Lenexa.

Calling upon the skills of the nationally recognized design group New Line Skateparks, the modern space nods to a local skatepark from the ’70s. Rolling Magic, once located near 95th Street and Interstate 35, was a staple for area riders until the early ’80s.

Wagler said that during the planning process, many citizens began to mention the memories they’d made riding along Rolling Magic’s sidewalks. From there, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board voted to recommend the new park be named “Rolling Magic” after its vintage predecessor. City Council has the final say on the park’s name, which has yet to be officially announced.

“At minimum, we plan to tell this important history of skateboarding in Lenexa as part of our project,” Wagler said.

The new area will also give a second life to the old park that has undergone two decades of weathering. The previous site sits west of where the updated park will lie at 87th Street Parkway and Greenway Lane.

Equipped with a low-speed zone for beginning riders and an elevated flow bowl for seasoned skaters, the layout is able to be enjoyed by citizens of all ages and experience levels.

Wagler said he’s enjoyed seeing residents rally behind the project. Engagement efforts, from open houses to meetings, have produced some of the best turnouts he’s seen.

Moving from 11,000 square feet to close to 13,000 square feet, the updated skate park’s circular loop and banked corners allow for the best ollies and kickflips. The landscape’s modern design incorporates sitting areas, while the outermost path allows for strolls and distance rides.

While construction is set to begin in early June and wrap up by September, Wagler said the older skate park adjacent to it will remain open for as much of the construction process as possible.

The city hopes to unveil the new course in time for Lenexa’s annual Spinach Festival.

Diehard skate fans and spectators alike are welcome. Wagler said the plaza-style park with spectator zones that blend into the area’s greenery will make for the ideal park for families.

“It allows for parents, grandparents, siblings that want to come and watch and enjoy the facility,” he said. “We’re very family friendly with this skate park.”