Blue Valley Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

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Summary

Blue Valley Park is a popular park located in Kansas City, Missouri, and is a great place to visit for anyone who loves outdoor activities. The park covers 235 acres and is open year-round, with plenty of activities and attractions to suit all ages and interests.

One of the park's main attractions is its large, well-maintained lake, which is popular with swimmers, fishermen, and boaters, and is surrounded by a sandy beach area and a large grassy picnic area. The park also boasts a variety of hiking and biking trails, as well as a playground, tennis courts, and a popular disc golf course.

Other points of interest within the park include the Blue River Greenway Trail, which runs through the park and provides access to the surrounding neighborhoods and beyond; the Blue Valley Historical Society Museum, which showcases the history of the area; and the Harry S. Truman Farm Home, which was once the home of the 33rd U.S. president.

Interesting facts about the park include that it was once a farm owned by Harry S. Truman before it was turned into a park, and that it is home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, foxes, and birds.

The best time to visit Blue Valley Park is in the spring or fall, when the weather is mild and the park is less crowded. However, the park is open year-round and offers plenty of activities and events throughout the year, so visitors can enjoy it at any time. Overall, Blue Valley Park is a great place to visit for anyone looking for outdoor recreation, history, and natural beauty in Missouri.

       

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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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