Overland Park considers weekend Farmstead fee

Visiting the Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead could become a paying proposition, but only on weekends.

The Overland Park City Council’s Community Development Committee has indicated its support for adopting a $2 admission charge from Fridays through Sundays at the popular attraction at 138th Street and Switzer Road. Entrance would continue to be free Mondays through Thursdays.

City parks officials recently proposed considering an admission charge in view of mushrooming Farmstead attendance. Parks Director Jim Cox said that occasional crowds reduced enjoyment of the visitor experience and also were posing some safety concerns.

The City Council last month called for more study about fee impacts and options.

That subsequent examination revealed that high-attendance days were almost always limited to weekends. Thus, the suggestion was made that weekend-only fees might be enough to alleviate concerns about crowding.

Some thought was given to adopting a fee structure that would offer lower rates for Overland Park residents. But the committee favors keeping the fee plan simple and removing any need to request proof of residency from patrons.

Councilman John Skubal voiced support for leaving weekdays free.

“I don’t want us ever to get to a point where we eliminate anyone from that facility because they don’t have the means to pay,” Skubal said.

Though dates have not been set, council members said they also would like free admission to be offered at least two weekends a year. Most likely, they said, it would be on a weekend when no major events were taking place at the Overland Park Soccer Complex, which is adjacent to the Farmstead.

Attendance at the 12-acre park is expected to approach 460,000 this year. That would be an increase of almost 40,000 from a year ago.

Currently, about $782,000 in annual revenues are generated at the Farmstead through concessions and charges for various activities.

Staff will finalize a fee proposal and return it to the committee before sending it to the full council for consideration.

Contact Loren Stanton at 385-6068, or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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