Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens

Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is a 300-acre nature complex featuring over 800 plant species arranged in themed gardens, including collections of native Kansas flora and international specimens. The grounds contain five miles of hiking trails with two 75-foot bridges spanning Wolf Creek and offer both paved paths and wood chip routes.

The site was established as an environmental preservation initiative dedicated to protecting the natural ecosystems of the Kansas region. Approximately 85 percent of the land serves this conservation mission and plays an important role in regional environmental stewardship.

The Environmental Education Visitors Center hosts regular exhibitions, sketch sessions, and photography workshops that explore connections between plants and art. Visitors can participate in activities that blend botanical learning with creative expression.

Visitors can choose between paved paths and loose forest trails depending on their fitness level and shoe preferences. The two large bridges offer distinctive viewpoints and help with orientation across the sprawling grounds.

A special area was designed as a tribute to Claude Monet's famous French garden at Giverny and features a green bridge as the central design element. This carefully recreated space gives visitors a sense of Monet's classic garden style without having to travel to France.