Gillham Park

Rate this place

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Gillham Park is a public park located in Kansas City, Missouri.


°F

°F

mph

Wind

%

Humidity

Summary

It covers an area of 62 acres and offers a variety of recreational opportunities for visitors. Some of the popular activities include picnicking, playing basketball, soccer, and tennis, as well as walking or jogging on the trails. There are also playgrounds for children and a swimming pool for summer fun.

One of the notable features of Gillham Park is the WWI Memorial Flagpole, which was dedicated in 1921 to honor the soldiers who fought in World War I. The park also has a historic shelter house, built in 1928, that is available for rent for parties or events.

Visitors to Gillham Park can enjoy the natural beauty of the area, with trees, walking trails, and a small lake. There are also several sculptures and artworks scattered throughout the park.

Overall, Gillham Park is a great destination for families, sports enthusiasts, and anyone who loves the outdoors. The best time to visit is during the spring or fall when the weather is mild and the trees are in bloom. However, the park is open year-round and offers different experiences throughout the seasons.

       

Weather Forecast

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.
Related References