Black Bob Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Black Bob Park is a 67-acre public park located in Olathe, Kansas.


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Summary

The park offers a variety of outdoor activities such as biking, hiking, fishing, and picnicking. There are several reasons why Black Bob Park is a great destination to visit.

One of the main attractions of the park is the lake, which is stocked with fish and offers fishing opportunities for visitors. The park also features a playground, a sports field, and a paved walking trail that is suitable for jogging and biking.

Another point of interest at Black Bob Park is the historical marker that commemorates the Battle of Black Jack, which took place nearby in 1856. The marker details the role that the area played in the fight for freedom in Kansas before the Civil War.

The park has several interesting facts, such as its history as a camping site for Native American tribes and its use as a training ground for the Union Army during the Civil War. It was also the site of a US Army Nike missile site during the Cold War.

The best time of year to visit Black Bob Park is during the spring and summer months, when the weather is warm and the park is lush with greenery. The park is open year-round, but some facilities may be closed during the winter months.

Overall, Black Bob Park is a great destination for anyone looking to enjoy the great outdoors, learn about local history, or simply relax in a beautiful setting.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
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.
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