Inside JCPRD

By David Markham This year we offer more than 30 youth camps over spring break (March 16-20), but there’s so much more, including the first (indoor) show of Theatre in the Park’s 2026 season, a four-day lifeguard certification course, Kids’...

By the Johnson County Museum The museum’s new special exhibit, “Everyday Democracy: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness in Johnson County,” explores a powerful idea: democracy isn’t only debated in Congress or written about in founding documents. It is...

By Guy Gardner Some shows whisper. Some shows sparkle. And some shows open with a tragic soup incident and five nuns scrambling to raise burial funds. Welcome to “Nunsense.”  The show runs March 14 – 29 at Theatre in the Park...

By David Markham It’s now been more than a year since JCPRD discontinued requiring separate county permits to fish in JCPRD waters, and officials said public reactions have been very positive. “It makes anglers’ lives a little easier, so I think it's...

By David Markham A new JCPRD Natural Resources Plan Update aims to continue the work of the original plan from five years ago, carrying forward its vision and principles while updating key portions such as a priority project list, operational...

By the Johnson County Museum When we talk about democracy, it’s easy to think about it as something that happens far away — in founding documents, national elections, or headlines out of Washington, D.C. But most of the time, democracy...

By Executive Director Jeff Stewart  At its best, a park and recreation system does more than provide places to go and things to do. It strengthens communities, creates moments of connection, and protects what matters today while planning responsibly for...

By David Markham Start planning for summer camp experiences where your kids can connect with fun, themes that capture their imagination, and each other with JCPRD’s 2026 Summer Camp Guide, online now at JCPRD.com/camps in the form of a digital...

By Melissa Bribiesca There’s something deeply satisfying about getting your hands in the soil, watching tiny leaves unfurl, or savoring a meal made from ingredients you’ve grown yourself. If you’ve ever dreamed of growing your own herbs, savoring homegrown greens,...

By David Markham When the weather eventually turns JCPRD parks into winter wonderlands, it opens a door to seasonal recreation opportunities including, but not limited to, sledding, cross-country skiing, and winter hiking. These are not only fun activities, but they also...

By Johnson County Museum Director Mary McMurray, Ph.D. As we close another year, I find myself reflecting on the wonderful ways this community continues to show up for its history — and how, together, we keep shaping what’s ahead. At...

By David Markham Antioch Park recently became the first park in JCPRD, and only the fourth in Kansas, to be accredited as an arboretum through ArbNet’s Arboretum Accreditation Program. “JCPRD manages over 4,000 acres of forest land throughout Johnson County and...