cunningham park

We had went to Oklahoma City to attend the National Tornado Summit and took a detour on the way home to visit Joplin and see the area 4 years after the storm. The park has everything one would need from a city park with play grounds, walking trails, picnic tables, and lots of grass, but what it also has is a memorial. A memorial dedicated to those that lost their lives in the tornado, and equally as important, those that came to aid of the people of Joplin Missouri. As a meteorologist and weather history buff, I came to the park to show my respects to those that were lost in this tragic event. What I took away from it was something totally different. I saw a town with hope, a town that still has scars but it's healing, a town that won't be defined by this event, and town that has a closer bond now than at any point in history. This park covers a deep scar, but the wound has healed and looks better than ever!

Walking path for dogs. Multiple playgrounds. Basketball court. Gazebo. Memorial for tornado victims. A nice place to spend a few hours.

After the tornado destroyed the park I was pleased to see what had been rebuilt. The park was stripped of everything and has been built to be a friendly area for children to play. I imagine the pool is quite busy in the summer.

Cunningham Park is dedicated to the victims of an EF5 tornado that destroyed a large part of their city in May 2011. Memorials in the park honor the children who died, all of the victims, the volunteers who helped the city in the days, weeks, months after the tornado. While parts of the park are solemn and peaceful, there are trails where many people walk and jog. There are several play areas where children can come and be children! Looking across the park you can imagine the horror of that day in May. Because things are slowly rebuilding and growing after the destruction there isn’t much shade in the park. A fun place for children to play and for adults to reflect on the power of nature.

We stopped by traveling home from Arkansas. At first, I was disappointed because the images didn't match the web views. However, the park is good sized and the focal point areas are widely separated rather than side-by-side as in web photos. I cried at the reflecting pool and bridge when I read it was dedicated "to the children who will never play here again." We were extremely impressed with the display monuments and creatively meaningful structural designs by architecture and design students. The wall of water with the missing section at the exact point on the timeline the tornado struck the park was quite moving. There were two or three concrete pillars with hard pieces of debris found in the park, set in concrete on top. However, thieves have already removed some pieces that had to have been chipped out with effort. Also, I was disgusted to see chalk graffiti around the mounted large plaque of names of those who died. On another wall, an area had been defaced and dark blue paint had been applied to cover up the graffiti. What kind of low-life person does these things? My hope is that the city of Joplin takes any defacing seriously and puts up cameras and prosecutes these thugs.

I grew up playing and swimming at Cunningham. I have lots of memories at the old park. The city has done a good job rebuilding the park since the tornado, but I wish they would have rebuilt the pavilion in the style of the original one.

As a Joplin resident and someone who lives just a few blocks away and saw exactly what the 2011 tornado did and what so many people went through, this park has a lot of meaning to me. I'm so glad that some sort of memorial was made for those who were lost and for all of those incredible volunteers who selflessly gave so much. The park is beutiful and the memorials are really neat. There's a a nice playground, basketball court, picnic areas and several memorials and things to check out. It seems like every time I drive by I notice something new they've added! There is also a nice public pool with slides that is cheap and fun for kids.

I was one of the first volunteers on the scene after the tornado. This was my first visit back to Joplin since the tornado. I was very encouraged by what I saw. New homes and businesses. I loved the tribute to the lives that were lost and the volunteers that served. I stayed at the park for quite awhile just looking at the landscape and remembering how it looked when I was there for search and clean up and what it looks like today. Remembering the stories,the people, the sights and smells. There was a family there at the memorial that had lost their mother to the tornado. I was moved to tears several times. I went back the next day to spend some more time exploring and remembering. It is a very special place. A wonderful memorial and place for rememberance. I will be making a return trip to Joplin in a few years to check on the ongoing progress. God Bless You Joplin.

As a resident of the area, I saw first hand what the park and surrounding area after the May 2011 F5 tornado. The park quickly became one the memorial areas and the monuments that have been built here are a testimony to the resilience and strength of the people of Joplin and the people from around the world that came to help. The park itself also has the best playground equipment in the Joplin area. The pool is open Memorial Day through Labor Day.

This park does hold a special place in the Joplin resident's hearts. The pool is tons of fun for all ages. The slides are exciting enough for a 12 year old & the price is reasonable. Everything was clean, life guards were on their jobs. We would visit again!

We had an absolute blast swimming at the aquatic center. It was affordable: 4 dollars for 15 & under is nice, most cut off's are 12. Lifeguards very attentive. Plan on arriving inyour swimsuit if you can, and leave before the rush of close. Men's room has only 1 shower, women's has only 2.Bathroom stalls were fairly plentiful but really gross, tp everywhere, backed up toilets. We chose to wait until we left. I hate seeing poor stalls, because then I get concerned about folks choosing a less savory option. It was very busy so I can understand that it was just hard use that couldn't be kept up with, wish they had a staff for just keeping up the bathrooms. There are enough things to do and well spaced enough that there aren't really lines to deal with. Lazy river got backed up by an elderly lady with a floaty chair, I was honestly concerned for her at times, but I guess that was her choice. I will return, great time for the money, can't find anywhere so cheap with so much to do for all ages.

As a 2011 tornado survivor, it was really hard to walk the tribute area the first time...but at the same time it gave my peace. They have built an even better family park, erected some amazing monuments to both the victims AND volunteers of the tornado, installed a beautiful pond and bridge, and are doing more on-site still. To those of us who lived here for a long time...Joplin Parks and their staff really are just the best you could find anywhere in the US!

The gazebo was great with plenty of trash bins. The restroom were close-by which was useful. The children's playground equipment was great for the families that had little ones.

I have held off doing a review of Cunningham Park. I started going to Joplin in 1989 not long after I moved to Missouri. St. John's across the street was one of my customers. Many times over the years I walked over to the park just to take a quick break. I have stopped to look around and tried to see the park how it was. The memorial with the names of those lost make you realize many aren't coming home. Please visit the park, but please visit with respect. This is a very special place.

My family loved this place. It was very well planned and set up. Great play equipment and the memorials were lovely.