Swope Park, one of the nation’s largest city parks, grew from 1,334 acres donated by Colonel Thomas H. Swope in 1866 to 1,769 acres and became home to major Kansas City attractions including the Kansas City Zoo, an IMAX screen, Starlight Outdoor Theatre, Frisbee golf, two public golf courses, walking trails, picnic areas, and quiet corners for reading. Bing Crosby once played in a golf tournament there for the American War Dads, climbers use its rock formations, and celebrity singers perform there during the summer. Before Swope donated the land to the city, the area was a Civil War battleground, and Colonel Swope was buried in the park at a memorial according to his wishes.
