The Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead is a 12-acre park and petting zoo designed to depict scenes from a family farm at the end of the 19th century. Visitors can see vegetable and flower gardens and nearly 200 farm animals and fowl, plus prairie dogs, longhorn steer, bobcats, bison and birds of prey. There are also several mini-playgrounds throughout the park.
Parking and Public Transportation to Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
The farmstead is located just south of the Overland Park Soccer Complex. Enter the complex and travel south past the last soccer field to the Farmstead parking lot. Or, take Switzer south from 135th and turn west past those soccer fields to the entrance to the parking lot. Parking is free.
Admission to Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
Admission is free Monday through Thursday. Cost is $2 per person Friday through Sunday and holidays. Children younger than age 2 are free. Additional costs for pony rides, horse-drawn wagon rides, fishing, and a bottle of milk to feed baby goats are about $5 or less each. A combo pack for fishing, mining, a bottle of milk for the baby goats, pony and wagon rides is available around $12 at the entrance to the park. No pets.
Best and worst times to go to Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
Visit on weekdays for free admission. This is an outdoor venue, so check for good weather. Weekends during youth soccer season may make parking challenging. Cow milking demonstrations are held at 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Dairy Barn. The schoolhouse and Native American encampment are usually closed for history tours Monday through Thursday mornings.
Must see/do at Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
Look for the bison in the east end of the park. Sift for "gold" in a mining trough under the windmill just west of the country schoolhouse. (Purchase a bag of sand and genuine gemstones at the site.) Feed and pet the goats and other animals throughout the park. Get a handful of animal feed from small red vending machines throughout the park for 25 cents. (Bring quarters.)
Food at Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
No outside food is allowed inside the park, however visitors can picnic in the Community Park at 13700 Switzer Rd., north of the east parking lot. Inside the farmstead, food and snacks are available at the east entrance, Alex & Emily's Ice Cream Parlor, the Dairy Barn and General Store. Lunch specials, including drink, are under $6, sandwiches under $4, snacks, drinks and desserts in the $2 range.
Other places to visit near Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art is nearby at 111th and Quivira Rd.
Insiders tip for visitors to Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
Check for recorded weather delays or cancellations at (913) 895-5020, Option 3.
Author's bio: Mary-Lane Kamberg is a professional writer and native Kansas Citian. She often took her own children to the farmstead and now takes her grandchildren there.
