Overland Park is one of America's Best Places to Grow Up (Kansas City: best suburbs, real estate)

[famusdarlin]

According to an article from US News, Overland Park, KS is one of the top 10 places in the United States to grow up.

America's 10 Best Places to Grow Up - Yahoo! Real Estate

Here is what they had to say about Overland Park.

"Just 12 miles outside of Kansas City, Mo., is the lovely community of Overland Park, Kan. This family-friendly suburb in America's heartland has a four-season climate and is opening a 12-field, artificially turfed, fully lit soccer complex in the late summer. "Soccer is a big sport in this community," says Mayor Carl Gerlach. Meanwhile, at the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead, kids can visit nearly 200 farm animals, toss a bobber into a fishing pond, or take a ride in a horse-drawn wagon. The 17-mile-long Indian Creek Trail makes for a great bike ride. At the same time, sports fans are only a short car ride away from a Kansas City Chiefs football game or a Kansas City Royals baseball game. In addition, "we have three different school districts in Overland Park," Gerlach says. "All three have been nationally ranked and won awards."

[kcmo]

OP is on of the best suburbs in the nation. This is one of the few list I agree with. KC in general has some of the best suburbs in the country.

[OneKC]

I grew up some there, and yes, it is lovely, but god is it boring. I guess that's good if you're a parent.

[sparksharp]

Originally Posted by OneKC

I grew up some there, and yes, it is lovely, but god is it boring. I guess that's good if you're a parent.

How so?

I don't think it could be nearly as boring as where I currently live! LOL!

[OneKC]

Originally Posted by sparksharp

How so?

I don't think it could be nearly as boring as where I currently live! LOL!

Culture in Overland Park = KenTaco Hut

[sparksharp]

Originally Posted by OneKC

Culture in Overland Park = KenTaco Hut

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!

Oh come on! Really?

[RichMonk]

I grew up in Overland Park and let me tell you...it is a lot of fun drinking and smoking pot in your friend's basement everyday after spending hours at the movies and the mall. [/sarcasm]

Seriously though, the place is really a cultural wasteland. I don't ever want to live there again and I don't ever want to raise my kids there.

Of course, I am a bit biased as I am one of those new heathen type people who are disgusted by most all suburbs. I need life in the places I frequent, not endless parking lots, cold winding strip malls, roads you can't see all the way across, boring chain food at every corner or buildings designed by five year olds. I like seeing places worth being in with vibrant walkways, ornate storefronts and with the smells of family owned restaurants wafting down the street.

[OneKC]

Originally Posted by sparksharp

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!

Oh come on! Really?

Yep!

I think I am biased because we all tend to not like the place where we spent as a teenager. I'm sure people that grew up in the West End of NYC probably thought it was boring too.

As a safe place with great schools, wonderful backyards and isolated neighborhood developments far from scary people, OP is a great place to raise a kid. But I'm not raising my kids there.

[RjRobb2]

Originally Posted by sparksharp

How so?

I don't think it could be nearly as boring as where I currently live! LOL!

Overland Park is corporate central and full of cookie cutter houses, cookie cutter strip malls, and the same big box business over and over again.

I can understand why it made the list but when it comes to culture and anything unique, Overland Park has none.

[Samantha S]

Originally Posted by RjRobb2

Overland Park is corporate central and full of cookie cutter houses, cookie cutter strip malls, and the same big box business over and over again.

I can understand why it made the list but when it comes to culture and anything unique, Overland Park has none.

Um ... it's a suburb. Suburbs in general are supposed to be quiet and low-key!

What makes OP (and JoCo in general) great is that is has all of the things that make suburban life great - for the people who WANT suburban life, and it's so close to all the amenities offered by KC,MO. It's a great place to raise kids, I won't live anywhere else until my kids are grown.

I also know plenty of young single types who have no trouble finding entertainment. Again, there are no walls around the place, KC offers LOTS of things to do!

If you don't like burbs in general, why even weigh in?