After a long winter, maybe you and your family are getting cabin fever like this mom. Since the weather is warming up I have been in the mood to try a park we had never been to. In my search, I stumbled across Erfurt Park in Shawnee. I loaded the car complete with everything it takes to make a successful park outing with two preschoolers; jackets, Uncrustables, drinks, and various snacks, you know, the essentials. Trying a new park is always an adventure. There are new things to see, do, and discover, but you never really know if you are going to arrive and the park is not a great fit. Erfurt was the perfect park for us.
Erfurt Park is named for Shawnee’s sister city Erfurt located in Germany. You can turn your park trip into a learning opportunity by taking time to read about Erfurt Germany while you are at the park. Before you go, find Germany on the globe and maybe talk about German culture. A simple park day can be transformed into an easy geography and social studies lesson.
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This park has all the basics. There are plenty of picnic tables inside of two shelters. There are also plenty of conveniently located trash cans and recycling bins for an easy after snack clean up. Since no trip with preschoolers is complete without a snack I consider these two things to be essential. I noticed there were bathrooms and drinking fountains, complete with a pet drinking fountain if you wanted to bring a furry member of your family along. These amenities were off for the winter, but thankfully there was also a portable restroom to use. There is a playground designed for preschool age and up where the kids can climb, but there are also baby swings and a smaller slide for the younger ones. They have several benches for you to sit and watch your children play or to just take in the beautiful scenery.
Erfurt park has a German country feel but in the middle of Johnson County. It left us feeling as though we had just been transported to Germany, while still being conveniently located off K7 highway. The park has wide open spaces and there is a nature-based playground area where your children can walk across logs, jump from tree stump to tree stump, and climb up a tree trunk. There is so much to climb that I can almost guarantee an easy bedtime is to follow after your visit. The shelters are unique using German-style architecture. Since we explored this park on a nice winter day the flowers and gardens were not in bloom, but I am sure this is a beautiful site to see during the Spring.
The park has a 0.6-mile walking trail making it a great place to bring your kids’ bikes, strollers, or even take your dog for a walk. In my case, I just had my son and nephew run and burn off all their energy. Our favorite part of the trail was a spiral path that took you to the top of the hill. You could see the entire park and beyond. The path also circles a little pond with a fountain spraying in the center. The boys had loads of fun looking for rainbows in the mist while we circled.
I would consider our exploration of Erfurt Park a success and I look forward to exploring it more during the spring. If you want to visit this park you can find it at 24135 W 71st St, Shawnee, KS 66227
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