By David Markham

The Johnson County Park and Recreation District invites residents of all ages to explore parks, trails and outdoor spaces across Johnson County through its new Passport to Public Art — a self-guided adventure that turns park visits into an art hunt.

The Passport to Public Art program, free to all participants, is intentionally low tech.

Participants can mark off sites they visit in their physical passport, online or by geotagging a selfie they take at each site.

Art locations can be visited in any order, on one trip or over multiple outings.

The JCPRD Public Art Program started in 2019 and has a collection of 15 outdoor permanent art pieces located in its parks, trails and facilities throughout Johnson County.

This year, another piece of artwork has been added to this free leisure activity. The newest is located at Big Bull Creek Park, 20425 Sunflower Road, Edgerton. The ribbon-cutting ceremony of “Picnic” at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 9, will also mark the official launch of the Passport to Public Art program.

Community members are invited to pack a picnic, bring friends and family and join the celebration.

“Picnic” by Don Kennell and Lisa Adler of DKLA Design is a sculptural celebration of the park’s prairie ecosystem. It features bronze and steel representations of native birds, pollinators and insects woven into sculptural structures accented with bronze-cast prairie grasses.

All JCPRD public art installations are accessible during regular park hours. Passports will be available digitally at JCPRD.com/passport or as printed booklets beginning May 9 at the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, 8788 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park.

Printed passports will also be available at the ribbon cutting, the JCPRD Administration Building at Shawnee Mission Park and the Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse, Prairie Village.

Other public art, organized by the year completed, includes:

2025

• “Fire Keepers Circle” by Aaron Squadroni and Leah Yellowbird, Heritage Park, 16050 Pflumm Road, Olathe

2024

• “Yield for Verhaeghe Park” mural by The Art Department, Arthur & Betty Verhaeghe Park, 11401 W. 167th St., Overland Park.
• “Art Nine Disc Golf Park” (10 artworks in all) by Amie Jacobsen, Scott Diven, Tim Mispagel and Jake Balcom near the inclusive playground, Shawnee Mission Park, 7900 Renner Road, Lenexa.
• “Cattails” by Arlie Regier located near Shelter No. 4, Shawnee Mission Park. Installed in the 1970s and restored in 2024.

2023

• “Gateway” by Amie Jacobsen, Meadowbrook Park, 9101 Nall Ave., Prairie Village.
• “Rebirth” mural by ITRA Icons, south facade of Okun Fieldhouse, 20200 Johnson Dr., Shawnee.

Each art piece offers QR codes for visitors to listen to a recording by the artist about the art piece and the inspiration behind the work.

Detailed information about JCPRD’s permanent art pieces can be found at JCPRD.com/publicart.

David Markham is Communications Specialist at the Johnson County Park and Recreation District.