Merriam

In the 1800s, Merriam was the biggest town in Northeast Kansas, thanks to its four grocery stores and the world-famous amusements at Merriam Park. Now, the area is home to the only Ikea in Kansas and 10 different parks, so retail and recreation remain at the heart of Merriam to this day.

As your neighbor gives you a wave on your daily walk, you’ll see a blend of side-gabled roof ranchers and split-level colonials that were built in the 1940s or 60s. Whimsical bungalows shrouded in shrubbery are also common. Even with the area’s signature spacious back and front lawns, the average home price is about $200,000, which is similar to the state average.

To furnish your new home, the Ikea in Merriam Town Center is only a short drive away from wherever you live. Since its opening in 2014, it has consistently employed over 300 people and even has the state’s largest solar panel system. Ikea, along with the neighboring Cinemark, Marshalls and Old Navy, have all made Merriam a retail destination in Kansas.

With both indoor and outdoor pools, the Merriam Community Center boasts year-round water recreation. Let your worries melt away as you drift down the indoor lazy river, glide down the two water slides, or get a vigorous cardio workout one of the 12 lap lanes. If water exercise is not your thing, run a few miles on the track or lift weights in the fitness center. For a culture-focused evening, you can catch a glimpse of local artistry at the Tim Murphy Art Gallery, where exhibits change monthly, and some pieces are even available to purchase.

When the weather is warm enough to venture outside the community center, Merriam is also home to Antioch Park, the oldest and most popular park in Johnson County. Here, you can cast a line into the two fishing lakes, stop and smell the roses at the Helen S. Cuddy Garden, or pay your respects at the Vietnam Memorial. The park’s most popular amenity is the Dodge Town Play Area, where children can let their imagination run wild in the faux schoolhouse, bank and city hall.

Children in the area attend Crestview Elementary School and Merriam Park Elementary School. Crestview parents gather every year for Tacos and Trivia night to raise money for the school, while Merriam Park students do several fundraisers per year at Skate City roller rink.

As school winds down, you can kick off summer with the annual Turkey Creek Festival. This fun-filled day starts with a 5k at Merriam Marketplace, which also hosts a farmers’ market during the summer. Once you’ve got your heart rate up, head to Antioch Park, where you can devour a pancake breakfast made by the local boy scout troop. Children can imitate their favorite superheroes when they get their face painted, or pretend to be farmers at the petting zoo. Adults can catch a concert from a local musician or grab a bite to eat at one of the food trucks.

In addition to well-known fast-food eateries, like Jack in the Box or Krispy Kreme, Merriam features local restaurants revered for their authentic fare. For example, El Pulgarcito is a Salvadorean restaurant in the area known for pupusas stuffed with steak, pork, chicken or shrimp. Moving to a different continent, Strawberry Hill Baking Company serves traditional povitica, a sweet, yet nutty Croatian and Slovenian pastry. With povitica flavors ranging from blueberry cream cheese to English walnut, this European bakery also ships everywhere in the United States.

Thanks to an active parks department, as well as proximity to small businesses and big box stores alike, Merriam has “small-town character and charm, while being close to downtown Kansas City and lots of other places,” says Keller Williams Real Estate Agent Sarah Page.

Written By

Tina Davis

Photography Contributed By

Brooke Wasson

Video By

Mary Desmond