Hodge Park Playground

Hodge Park is one of those north KC green spaces that locals treasure and outsiders haven't fully discovered yet. The playground sits within a large, wooded park system off NE Reinking Road, giving it a nature-immersive feel that flat, suburban playgrounds simply can't replicate.

The playground equipment is well-scaled for toddlers through tweens, with structures at multiple heights and challenge levels. The wooded setting around the playground area adds an element of natural exploration — kids can run through the surrounding open areas before or after playing on the equipment. It's the kind of place where an hour of playground time can easily extend to two hours of general outdoor rambling.

Beyond the playground, Hodge Park has disc golf and nature trails, making it one of the most versatile free family destinations in north KC. Families with kids of different ages — a 4-year-old who wants the playground and a 9-year-old who wants to explore the trails — can keep everyone happy in one visit.

The park is managed by KC Parks and is free and open daily from 5AM to midnight. Parking in the main lot off Reinking Road is free and typically plentiful. The trailhead is stroller-accessible on the main path, though off-trail sections get rough.

One logistics note: bring bug spray in summer. The wooded environment means mosquitoes in the evenings. Morning visits are better for avoiding both bugs and heat on hot summer days. For north KC families or anyone willing to make the drive to a genuinely pleasant outdoor space, Hodge Park delivers a full-family morning or afternoon at zero cost.