By David Markham
Take part in an unforgettable day of horsepower and hotrods at the 15th annual Cars in the Park, a major annual fundraising event benefitting JCPRD’s Special Olympics team, the Stormin’ Rangers.
This event will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18, in the Theatre in the Park parking lot in Shawnee Mission Park, which can be reached via a separate entrance at 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee. For spectators there is a suggested donation of $10 per family.
“This is our only (Special Olympics) fundraiser of the year and proceeds benefit 100+ athletes by keeping program costs affordable and providing scholarships to those who need financial assistance to attend out-of-town Special Olympics state tournaments,” said Adaptive Recreation Coordinator Lise Dujakovich. “Our athletes are talented and dedicated to doing their best at every practice and competition. We work hard to promote sportsmanship and fair play among our athletes and coaches to represent JCPRD proudly. Our coaches are volunteers; they dedicate so much time to our athletes: teaching skills, reinforcing skills, motivating and encouraging athletes with their voices, high-fives, and fist bumps! We strive to put smiles on faces and are thrilled to see how excited our athletes are with both small steps and bigger achievements!”
Organizers are planning for 200 vehicles this year, which would be up from 174 in 2024, and also hope to draw 1,700 to 2,000 spectators. Participating cars compete to win an award in one of 15 categories.
This event is meant to be fun for all ages and, in addition to hundreds of classic, modern, and unique rides, also features a live DJ, delicious food trucks, exciting raffle prizes, and a 50/50 pot for participants. Participants are under no obligation to make a contribution and may not be barred from participation they do not make a contribution.
This is a rain-or-shine event. However, in the case of severe weather, call the information line at 913-686-6030 x 14#
Cars in the Park began in 2008 under previous Special Populations Coordinator Jody McMahon, who was with what is now the Adaptive Recreation Department from 2016 through December 2023. The event count reflects the fact that two previous car shows were cancelled because of severe weather.
“The car show began in a parking lot with just a few cars, moved to the Shawnee Mission Park Marina parking lot, and is now at the Theatre in the Park parking lot,” Dujakovich said. “The show continues to grow!”
Even after leaving employment with JCPRD, McMahon and her family have continued to positively impact the district’s Adaptive Recreation Programs. Jim McMahon has coached JCPRD softball, basketball, and other sports for the JCPRD’s Special Olympics team for more than 25 years. Their son, Sean, has participated as an athlete in a variety of sports and social activities for at least that many years. Their daughter, Erin, and son-in-law, Chris, are at every Cars in the Park and Chris sets up the DJ equipment for the event. Chris also helped us make the connection with Dream Team Car Club KC. Their son, Patrick, has been at most of the car shows and helps tally up votes for all the award categories.
The McMahons were also recognized by Special Olympics Kansas as the 2014 Making a Difference KC Metro Family of the Year. This award “recognizes a family within the Special Olympics Kansas organization that has made a unique and lasting contribution, not only to benefit their athlete or local team, but also to every aspect of the Special Olympics spirit.”
A goal for this year’s Cars in the Park is to have Stormin’ Rangers athletes take on a more visible role during the event, Dujakovich said.
“It’s important for vehicle registrants and patrons to see exactly who they are supporting,” she said. “There will be a display at the entrance to the show with Shawnee Mission Ford placing our Stormin’ Rangers logo on some of their cars. Our athletes will be there in uniform to greet spectators as they enter.”
Representatives of The Parks & Recreation Foundation of Johnson County will also be on hand to collect donations and greet visitors.
“At the heart of the foundation’s mission is ensuring all Johnson County participants have equitable access to our parks, programs, and sports – at any ability level,” said Foundation Executive Director Kelly Blandford. “For the Stormin’ Rangers, that means the foundation is helping to cover the costs of motor coach buses so our athletes can travel safely to competitions all across the state.”
Sponsors for this year’s event are: Shawnee Mission Ford, which will have a display of trucks near the entrance; as well as Azura Credit Union; Santa Fe Tow; and Precision Tint. Vendors include: That Place, Travelin’ Tom’s (Kona Ice), Sissy’s Mini Donuts, Barbwire BBQ, and Devoted Health Plan.
Vendor spaces and sponsorship opportunities for businesses are still available, with all proceeds supporting participants, athletes, and their families. If you’d like to get more involved with the foundation or make a donation, please visit JCPRDFoundation.org to learn more.
For anyone interested in entering their vehicle in the show, registrations are being taken through the day of the event. All participants must be registered and on-site by noon to be judged. The fee is $35 per vehicle through the day of the show. For participants, there will be door prizes.
To learn more or to register a vehicle for the event, register online or call the Registration Department at 913–831-3359.
