Anyone want to share thoughts about Overland Park? (Kansas City, Independence: home, travel)

[Versatile]

I have noticed that approximately only two person from Overland Park hae posted anything at all about OP. Makes me wonder why.

[DR1665]

Overland Park is nothing more than a suburb of Kansas City. Period.

The author of the aforementioned article likely does not actually live in Kansas. Aside from Kansas City, there is no place in Kansas where someone who has experienced life in a developed, metropolitan area would find appealing. Small towns and smaller minds. You go to the mall. You go to church. You gossip. That's about it.

[kansaslady]

Overland Park is just one of many cities in Johnson County, KS. OP is the largest city in JOCO; and as far as I'm concerned all the cities in JOCO are nice. They are all so close together that you will end up driving through most of them a lot to get to your destination.

One thing I do not like about OP is some of the stuck-up attitudes. I heard, and have since seen it demonstrated, that anyone living south of 103rd Street in OP are better people than those living north of 103rd St. Now, how rude of an attitude is that? As far as traffic in JOCO, I prefer driving north of 103rd, south of there the traffic is very congested.

I think the residents of JOCO are a pretty nice bunch of people for the most part...I can do without the ones who are arrogant and think they're better than everyone else.

Maybe whomever wrote that OP is the best city in JOCO was working at the Chamber of Commerce.

[kansaslady]

I should have added that I have lived both in OP and in Shawnee....I prefer Shawnee...not so crowded.

[mharvey]

I was born in Overland Park, KS. Don't remember a lick about it. But my folks & my sister spent a lot of time there & never had a bad thing to say about it.
Looking for my cousin, Greg Kuntz. Maybe in Lawrence, KS. Not real sure.

[Citygirl89]

Overland park is good. It has a lot of attractions and many places to shop and eat. It's a pretty big city, and it's a great place for people.

[old_boy]

I have lived in various places in the Greater Kansas City metro area on both the Kansas and Missouri sides of State Line Road, including north Overland Park (near Shawnee Mission Parkway) and south Overland Park (near 151st Street). Overland Park is fine is you are comfortable with suburban life. I had good neighbors on both ends of the city, although the attitudes in north and south JOCO are quite different. The north is much more easy going, and the south is much more class conscious. And yes, there is crime in Overland Park, but not as much as in the economically depressed areas of Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri. But every city in America is like that. KCMO also has safe neighborhoods. Kansas City, Missouri has the most to offer if you are looking for big city type experiences... museums, pro sports, theatre, etc. and it is currently going through a $6 billion facelift downtown, so it should be even more appealing soon. However, Overland Park/Johnson County is coming into its own as a smaller city destination. The community college is stronger than many four-year schools, and there is much to do. However, the smaller neighborhoods in northeast Johnson County, such as Prairie Village and Mission, have more personality in my opinion... not quite as generically suburban as Overland Park.

[kansaslady]

Whether you choose Overland Park, Lenexa, Shawnee, Olathe, Mission, Leawood, Prairie Village..etc., etc., they are all cities in Johnson County. I have lived here for over 12 years and all the cities in JOCO are so close together that you travel from one to another many times and can't tell which one you are in...lol. I love it in JOCO because of the low crime, job market (high wages!), affordable housing/cost of living, great shopping/restaurants, medical facilities and doctors, friendly personalities, great schools........need I say more?

I highly recommend this area. What would I change if I could? Well, no ice in the winter would certainly be nice, but hey, this is KS...and that's just the way it is.

[kuJhawksfan]

Yes, I would definately move to Overland Park. I used to live in Overland Park before moving to Wisconsin, and I absolutely loved it. The entire area (Shawnee, Overland Park, Olathe, Leawood, Mission Hills, Lenexa, Prairie Village, etc) is spectacular, and I miss it SO much. That area is constantly growing. It is the perfect place to raise kids, and it's a thriving region. Anyone that goes to Overland Park and the suburbs from somewhere else has a completely different view of Kansas. I go back a few times every year because of family that I have in Shawnee. KansasLady is right--they are all very close together, even the Kansas/Missouri suburbs. Unless you're on the turnpike, it's difficult to tell if you're still in Kansas or not. There is State Line Road between Prairie Village and a town in Missouri (I don't remember which it is.). Anyway, I would strongly reccomend Overland Park. I would bet that there is just about everything you're looking for right in Overland Park, and if it isn't there, you can drive right down Shawnee Mission Pkwy and get to another city. The sense of community in that area is strong, which is one of the best parts. Although, if you're looking for a city w/ older homes, Overland Park is not where you want to be. If you're into "cookie-cutter" homes that have their own 'personality', this is a wonderful place. Keep in mind that Overland Park has some of the highest real estate in the state, though.

[emilybog]

I have lived here for over 2 years. I love it here. I will be as honest as I can be for you. Many call it "stuck up", many call it "crowded" but if you have lived in areas that are actually crowed and stuck up you would think OP was warm and friendly. If you have not lived here for over 10 years you can not even speak about OP. Most of this city is brand new! It is a “white collar” city because most of the jobs are “working for corporate office” type jobs. If you want a factory type job you will need to go to the neighboring cities. Being a paramedic I can talk a little about the Emergency Services part. They have extremely high standards and micro manage their workers to death. They think of themselves very highly and consider themselves an elite group. The firemen are perfect hard bodies with Ken doll faces. The junior college (JCCC) even acts uppity and has high standards. Most of the people I know in OP have Masters and bachelors degrees anyway. It is a very Rep. City and many lawyers won’t take cases in JOCO. A lawyer I am friends with said something about JOCO courts are not sympathetic to cases against companies and “whiplash” type cases. So all the ambulance chaser type Lawyers don’t come here, they hang out in Jackson county. It is very Corp. friendly. It is a very “family” friendly city too. Most of the people here are members of huge beautiful churches in the OP area. I would say they hold the traditional Christian family structure very important. So when they swing, they sneak off to KC. We have beautiful parks, schools and trails. We have this trail that is about 15 miles long. It is paved and well groomed and runs along the river. That is my favorite hang out for rollerblading, biking and jogging. They even have signs that tell you how to pass someone “passing on your left”. Propeller heads on the lay down bicycles love that trail. So do couples that wear matching outfits and ride 2 seater bikes. I find that a bit too dorkish for my taste. Did I mention there are lots of educated dorks here. They are not the swingers. Many of the people that are attracted to OP are the pretty families. They come here to build a new home and live in a perfect area. Most of the women are high maintenance. We have bars here that are commonly referred to as “Gold Digger” bars. This is where the women hang out that are looking for a new husband. The run their first husbands credit into the ground trying to live here then go to Raul’s Velvet room to work on their second husband. Well I have said enough. God Bless OP 