Lenexa's building KC's first public ninja course
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
This could be you, Lenexa. Photo: Patrick Wymore/Peacock/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Soon, you could train like an "American Ninja Warrior" contestant at a new obstacle course in Lenexa.
Why it matters: The $1.4 million project will be KC's first public course of this kind, and comes as a result of resident surveys, Lenexa spokesperson Denise Rendina tells Axios.
Zoom in: The project at Central Green Park is funded through a partnership between the city and AdventHealth, which opened an adjacent hospital in 2025.
- It's expected to bring fitness and play together with elements for children and adults, plus year-round restrooms and shady places to sit.
What they're saying: "Residents expressed a strong interest in additional adult fitness, wellness, and enrichment opportunities" through the city's 2024 Parks & Recreation Master Plan, Rendina says.
- She points to the ninja park in Hutchinson, Kansas, as a similar concept, adding, "In some cases, professional Ninja Warrior athletes participate in demonstrations or grand opening events."
Zoom out: Parkour is a fast-growing fitness trend in the U.S., with TV shows like "American Ninja Warrior" fueling broader interest in movement-based workouts.
- Once synonymous with an outlaw, fence-hopping subculture, it went viral after "The Office" Season 6 made "Parkour!" a punchline.
- Some KC-area gyms offer classes, including Motus Ninja, USA Ninja Challenge and Sky Zone Trampoline Park.
What's next: Construction on Lenexa's course is expected to start this summer with a completion date forecasted in 2027.