Public gardens have been a topic of this blog on several occasions over the years, primarily because I usually make a point of visiting such places when I am traveling. In April 2025 my wife and I were in Kansas City having lunch with a friend who told us to make sure we stopped by the Kauffman Memorial Garden before heading back home. She mentioned that the tulips and other spring bulbs were in full bloom and that we would be amazed by the displays of color and design. Among the many advantages of being retired is the flexibility of our schedule, which meant we felt no pressure to get back on the road. We took our friend’s advice. She wasn’t exaggerating. The wow factor was in overdrive.

Approximately two acres in size, the Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden is the centerpiece of Legacy Park, an urban greenspace in the historic Rockhill neighborhood of Kansas City that is owned and operated by the Ewing Muriel Kauffman Foundation. There is no charge to enter the garden, and parking is free. The garden is not available for private functions, including weddings, receptions, or parties. Organized photo sessions, including portraits, are also prohibited. Children must be accompanied by adults. Dogs other than service animals are not allowed. Brick pathways make the garden accessible to almost anyone, regardless of limited mobility. This tranquil space is truly an oasis nestled in a metropolitan area of over 2 million people.  

According to the website, the garden opened on Memorial Day weekend in 2000. Its design is inspired by the gardens of Europe, complete with fountains, pools, statuary and other artwork, planting containers, benches, and a greenhouse all enclosed within a stone and wrought-iron wall. It features more than 350 varieties of perennials, a collection of ornamental trees, and numerous annual beds that change seasonally. For our visit, we were greeted by a resplendent display of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, pansies, crocus, and several other species I couldn’t identify. The colors were spectacular, and the palette design was careful and deliberate.

The namesakes of the foundation and the garden have a fascinating and close connection to Kansas City, and their legacy is a large one. Among his many accomplishments, Ewing Marion Kauffman established Marion Laboratories in 1950 and created the Kansas City Royals baseball team as an expansion club in 1968. His wife, Muriel, served as the treasurer and first legal counsel for Marion Laboratories. They started a foundation that would eventually become a powerhouse in funding the performing and visual arts, but the reach of their philanthropy extended to so many other areas. The garden serves quite literally as a memorial to the couple – they are buried on the grounds. They left a remarkable charitable footprint, and this garden is a showcase of their generosity and love for their home, Kansas City.