Fw Kent Park
Rate this placeNearby: North Ridge Park St Morrison Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
F.W.
°F
°F
mph
Wind
%
Humidity
Summary
Kent Park is a popular destination in Iowa, located in Johnson County. The park boasts several reasons to visit, including a wide range of recreational activities such as hiking, fishing, camping, boating, and bird-watching. The park covers over 1,000 acres and features a large lake, numerous trails, picnic areas, an observatory, and a nature center.
Visitors can explore the park's beautiful landscapes, which include rolling hills, woodlands, and prairies. The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, foxes, and a wide range of bird species. The park's observatory is a favorite attraction, offering visitors the opportunity to observe the stars and planets.
One of the most popular activities at F.W. Kent Park is fishing. The lake is stocked with a variety of fish species, including bass, catfish, and sunfish. The park also offers boat rentals, making it a great place to spend a day on the water.
Another interesting fact about F.W. Kent Park is that it is home to the Johnson County Historical Society. Visitors can learn about the area's history through exhibits and displays.
The best time to visit F.W. Kent Park is during the spring and fall when the weather is mild, and the foliage is at its most beautiful. However, the park is open year-round and offers activities for all seasons, including ice fishing and cross-country skiing in the winter months.
Overall, F.W. Kent Park is a fantastic place to visit in Iowa, offering a wide range of activities and attractions for visitors of all ages.
Weather Forecast
Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Area Campgrounds
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
|---|---|---|
F. W. Kent County Park
|
||
Kent Park Family Campground
|
||
Lake Macbride State Park Campground
|
||
Middle Amana Park
|
North Ridge Park
ST Morrison Park
Thornberry Off Leash Dog Park
Terrill Mill Park
Lake MacBride State Park