Better playgrounds, longer trails & a new park coming to Olathe. See 2026 plans
With warmer days on the horizon, families in Olathe could be gearing up to get outdoors and enjoy the sunshine.
Registration for Olathe Parks and Recreation spring sports opened last month, and now in early February, Johnson County is feeling the bittersweet warmth of “false spring.”
While you can’t rule out more chilly days ahead, there are reasons to look forward to more time outside this year.
In the past several years, the city of Olathe has been planning additions and improvements in its parks and trails. Now this year, Olathians can look forward to new playground equipment, additions to trails and a brand-new park.
Here’s a comprehensive list of projects that will take shape at Olathe parks this year.
Olathe parks playground upgrades
Mahaffie Pond Park
Mahaffie Pond Park, 1031 E Cothrell St., is slated to have new playground equipment installed in this spring. The city of Olathe received a $58,000 grant used for purchase of the equipment.
Students from Mahaffie Elementary voted on three playground options to be built in the park, and their top choice was purchased by the city.
Amenities at Mahaffie Pond Park include a 0.2-mile walking trail loop with access to the Mahaffie Creek Trail, a 1.4-acre fishing pond, a playground and picnic area. The 6.5-acre park was dedicated in 1982.
Woodbrook Park
Woodbrook Park, 14821 W. 123rd Terrace, will have new playground equipment installed this spring and summer. Construction at this park will also include all new trails and a new shelter, to be completed over the summer.
Amenities at Woodbrook include a 0.2-mile walking trail loop, a playground, a half-court basketball hoop, and a first-come first-served park shelter with a table, charcoal grill, lights and water.
The 2-acre park was dedicated in 1990.
Eastbrooke Park
Eastbrooke Park, 13000 S. Greenwood St, will have new playground equipment and a new shelter installed at some point this year, according to a city spokesman.
New playground equipment is still in the design phase of city planning, a city spokesman said.
Amenities at Eastbrook Park include a 0.3-mile pedestrian and bike path with access to the Eastbrooke Greenway Trail, a playground, and a first-come first-served park shelter. The shelter has three picnic tables, a charcoal grill, lights, electricity and water.
The 6-acre park was dedicated in 1998.
Brand-new park coming in 2026-27
Pioneer Park
Pioneer Park is a brand-new park that is slated to begin construction this year near the intersection of College Boulevard and Woodland Road.
The park will feature walking paths, a dry creek bed, a small playground, shelter and restrooms. It will have a parking lot and connections to surrounding neighborhoods, a city spokesman said.
The property will also include the brand-new Fire Station 9 on its southwest corner.
Pioneer Park will be the city’s 28th neighborhood park, according to the city website. It was made possible through a land donation from the Hoff family.
Construction is phased, with phase one starting this spring, and phase two starting sometime in 2027.
New trails for 2026
Phase three of Cedar Creek Trail
The city of Olathe will build out an additional 0.9 miles of the Cedar Creek Trail this year. The project will connect Lake Olathe at the Beaver Shelter to the Cedar Niles Trail off Santa Fe.
Once phase three is complete, there will be 8 miles of trail connectivity between Lake Olathe and the Cedar Niles Trail.
Other notable changes at Olathe parks this year
- New basketball court at Black Bob Park to replace existing court declining in quality.
- Mill Creek Pool House reconstruction and installation of a splash pad (coming fall 2026 to spring 2027).
- More parks signage and way finding at Frontier Park.
- Backstop improvements at various athletic facilities.
- New outfield fencing along baseball fields 3 & 4 at Prairie Center Park, made possible by a grant from the Kansas City Royals.
- New restrooms & concessions for Olathe Girls Softball Complex (coming winter 2026 into 2027).
