9 Best Parks in Liberty, Missouri to play, hike, and have fun
We love finding new places, especially spots to get outdoors. Liberty, Missouri, is one of our favorite spots to escape to near Kansas City. For a smaller city, Liberty has a surprising variety of parks—everything from hiking trails and nature centers to huge sports complexes and quiet playgrounds tucked into neighborhoods.
These are our family’s favorite parks in Liberty, Missouri. Some are perfect for after-school play, some are where we meet friends for sports, and others make us feel like we’ve gone on a mini adventure.
Best Parks in Liberty, Missouri
1. Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary
When my kids want a real adventure without leaving town, Martha LafiteNature Sanctuary is our go-to. We’ve spotted frogs, turtles, and even snakes along the trails and in the creek. The sanctuary has more than 100 acres of prairie, forest, and streams, plus a nature center with live animals and fun educational exhibits.
There are both paved and unpaved trails. We like to take the Rush Creek Trail to the McGowan Bridge Trail and play in the creek. It has great shallow areas and deeper areas. We like to bring small fishing nets and containers and see what we can catch. There are also fossils there! Make sure to leave whatever you find, but it is fun to look!
Martha Lafite Nature Center also has great kid and family programming. My kids have attended their outdoor summer camps and had a blast! We also love attending their nature programs and Fairytale Forest, a fun fall event where they illuminate the trails with jack-o-lanterns and have characters telling stories and passing out candy. My son even had his birthday party here once and it was so much fun!
If you’re into foraging, this is a good spot to find pawpaws (look on the Pawpaw Trail) and I even found a persimmon here once! They also have geocaches in the park if you’re looking for a treasure hunt!
2. Stocksdale Park
Stocksdale Park is where we head when my kids need space to run (or roll down hills). In the winter, it’s one of the best sledding spots in Liberty. In the summer, people love disc golf and mountain bike trails. There’s also a dog park, sports fields, and shelters for family gatherings.
They recently updated the playground. The new addition looks really nice. There is a short loop paved trail starting from the playground. My kids like to bring their bikes and I let my daughters bike the loop while their little brother plays at the playground with me.
There are a few nice sculptures and a pollinator garden as well. They also have different trees labeled throughout the paved trail, which makes it a fun and educational walk. The unpaved trails can be hiked, but they are popular with mountain bikers as well. I have hiked a few of them, but they can be a little confusing if you don’t know where to go. They are good if you’re up for an adventure!
3. Ruth Moore Park
This is one of the best parks in Liberty, Missouri for little kids and toddlers. It has saved the day for my kids after they were hauled around running errands in Liberty. It’s not huge, but it’s shaded, safe, and easy to keep an eye on the kids. I love that it is fenced.
There is a splash pad and playground right next to each other. There is also a community garden, a dog park, a park shelter and a short, paved hike.
4. Westboro-Canterbury Park
Tucked into a neighborhood, this park has a shady playground, paved trails, pickleball courts, and a picnic shelter. It’s a low-key spot, but that’s what I love about it. The trails are shaded and fairly flat, so it is a great spot for the kids to bike and scooter. There are a few places you can access the creek as well. There are two small playgrounds. Although they aren’t huge, my kids always have a good time playing there.
There are restrooms, but they are to the southwest of the trail, between the two playgrounds.
5. Bennett Park
Bennett Park is Liberty’s oldest park, and it shows in the best way. It has tennis courts, baseball fields, a playground, disc golf, and wide-open green space. My kids love the freedom to run here, and I love the historic charm since it’s so close to downtown Liberty.
6. Liberty City Park
City Park is one of the bigger, busier parks in Liberty. It is fairly new and very nice. There is a large playground with a huge twisty slide that kids love and a splash pad. There are restrooms, but they are closed in the colder months.
There are also three park shelters. My daughters are having their birthday here because they love this park so much! If you want to reserve a shelter, be sure to book it early since this park is popular.
There is a decent amount of parking, but it can fill up on a particularly nice day. This park is mostly fenced, but there aren’t doors at the gate openings.
7. Capitol Federal Sports Complex
If you’ve got kids in sports, you’ll end up here eventually. This massive complex has dozens of fields, concession stands, and a small playground. It’s not the most scenic park in town, but it’s a lifesaver if you’ve got younger siblings who need something to do during games or practices.
This is also the best spot to go fishing in Liberty. It’s an interesting dynamic, having stocked ponds surrounding the fields, but it looks pretty and makes spaces that would probably be grass useful in another way.
8. Arthur’s Hill Park
Arthur’s Hill is a smaller neighborhood park, but it is very cute. My kids love the slide on the hill and the climbing structure. There are paved walking trails nearby and a cute pollinator garden. This park isn’t fenced, but its location sets it back from the road and places it in a mostly residential area, which is nice. If you’re looking for a smaller, low-key park, then this is a great option.
9. Cate’s Creek
Cate’s Creek is another small trail, tucked away through a residential area of Liberty. This trail is paved, shaded, and wooded. It’s got a creek running through it, making it a few degrees cooler in the summer. There is a small playground near one end of the trail, next to Cadence at Cate’s Creek apartments.
This trail has a mulberry tree, if you like foraging.
Frequently Asked Questions about Liberty Parks
What is the biggest park in Liberty?
Stocksdale Park is the largest park in Liberty, with sports fields, a dog park, disc golf, trails, and even sledding hills in the winter.
Where can I hike in Liberty?
Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary is the best place for hiking in Liberty. It has several miles of trails through woods, prairies, and creeks. Some Liberty neighborhood parks also have short walking trails.
Are there dog-friendly parks in Liberty?
Yes! Stocksdale Park has a large off-leash dog park. Ruth Moore also has a dog park. Many other Liberty parks are dog-friendly too, as long as pets are leashed. Martha Lafite Nature Sanctuary does not allow dogs.
Which parks in Liberty, Missouri have playgrounds?
Most Liberty parks have playgrounds, including Liberty City Park, Ruth Moore Park, Westboro-Canterbury Park, and Bennett Park. For bigger playgrounds, Liberty City Park is a favorite.
What parks in Liberty, Missouri have splash pads?
Liberty has two great splash pads. One is at Liberty City Park. It is larger and often busy. Ruth Moore Park has a smaller, shaded splash pad.
What is the best park in Liberty for toddlers?
Ruth Moore Park is small, shaded, fenced and easy to keep an eye on little kids—perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. Arthur’s Hill Park also has some smaller climbing structures and a sandbox toddlers would love.
Are there events at the Liberty parks?
Yes! Our family loves their Halloween and Easter scavenger hunt. Check their website for the information.
Final Thoughts
Liberty has a little bit of everything when it comes to parks. My family loves mixing it up, some days we want a big playground, and other days we just need a quiet walk through the woods. That’s one reason we love the parks in Liberty, Missouri so much! We can find everything we want to do there! Next time you’re looking for a new spot, pick one of these Liberty parks and make a family day of it.
If you’re looking for even more ideas, check 21 Best Trails for Hiking in Kansas City and the Metro or grab my Missouri Map with over 1,000 family-friendly spots pinned and ready to explore.
