Recent survey names Loose Park as the top public space Missouri homebuyers value living near

  Less than a mile from UMKC, Loose Park is the top public space impacting Missouri homebuyers’ desire to live in a certain neighborhood, according to a recent survey by real estate platform Calgary Homes.

  The report found that practical spaces in older, established neighborhoods with daily use by locals contribute to an area’s draw, all of which apply to Loose Park.

  Some of the park’s features include walking paths, open green space, a pond, rose garden and tennis courts. Its proximity to UMKC is a bonus for students.

  Sonsie Brown, a junior pre-med biology student, enjoys going to Loose Park in the spring and summer to have picnics and feed the ducks.

  Brown said that, along with the “beautiful” scenery, she loves how there is a range of parkgoers.

  “You just see anyone, sometimes someone walking a dog or taking pictures, or there could be a wedding, so I just love the diversity,” said Brown.

  When determining the kinds of spaces a community needs, it’s desirable “to have environments that allow people to gather together, and even better if it’s a mix of people,” said Michael Frisch, associate professor and program director of urban planning and design.

  Along with the amenities, Frisch said that the park’s maintenance plays a big role in its appeal, as there are not many parks in the Kansas City area that are as well-kept as Loose Park.

  “It has very wealthy folks who live along the edges, and I would not be surprised if there’s an independent foundation that supports the upkeep of Loose Park, more than the upkeep of other parks,” said Frisch.

  Although she does not go as much anymore due to a lack of time, junior biology major Sophia Cerv said that as a teenager, she liked going to Loose Park to wander and get fresh air “because it was nearby, and it’s a really pretty park.”

  “It’s just a family-friendly area to take your kids, like my sister takes my nephew there all the time just to look around, play around, and it’s pretty peaceful,” said Cerv.

  Students with busy schedules have to make the most of their free time, but having an accessible park nearby can make that easier.

  “It is a place where you could throw a blanket down and read in the sun, fall asleep, and then go back to reading,” said Frisch.

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