A historic square, a community-wide trail network and a 200-acre lake represent three distinct sides of Paola. Park Square reflects the city’s history and events, Wallace Park its sports and recreational facilities, and Lake Miola Park its water activities. The Miami County Historical Museum adds county history and interactive exhibits to the mix. If you choose Paola as an overnight destination, this distinction can help with planning: first decide whether culture, park amenities or water activities should be your priority.

Park Square: City History and Events

Park Square was donated to the city of Paola by Baptiste Peoria, one of the city’s founders. The donation came with the condition that no building be erected on the square. Park Square includes a fountain and a Victorian pavilion. Two structures should be distinguished in the history of the bandstand: the original bandstand was built in 1867, and the current pavilion was completed in 1913. If you are interested in how the site developed, you can place these two distinct phases of the square’s history in context.

Seasonal festivals and music festivals are held at Park Square throughout the year. These include the two-day, family-friendly Roots Festival, held on the square in downtown Paola. The program features live music, arts and crafts, food vendors, a BBQ competition, games and rides. Event details may vary from year to year. If you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the current dates.

Recreational Facilities and Water Activities

Sports and recreational facilities take center stage at Wallace Park. These include a playground, a bicycle path, tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball and softball fields, and picnic shelters. The skate park measures 90 × 45 feet and has ramps and half-pipes. This gives you a range of facilities in one place, from play areas to the skate park.

The fairgrounds, which host the Miami County Fair annually during the last week of July, are adjacent to Wallace Park. The annual schedule may change; check the fair’s current dates before your trip.

Activities at Lake Miola Park focus on the water. The park offers opportunities for boating, water skiing, swimming and fishing on a 200-acre lake. The options range from boating and water skiing to swimming and fishing. If you’re planning your days around specific activities, this focus is easy to distinguish from the sports facilities at Wallace Park.

Museum and Trail Network

The Miami County Historical Museum presents the county’s heritage through interactive exhibits. It also has a large collection of artifacts from Indigenous American cultures. The museum complements Park Square’s historical connections with its own perspective on county history.

Paola Pathways is a multi-use trail network that connects the Paola community. Unlike individual parks and museum destinations, the trail network itself is the focus here. This lets you weigh cultural destinations, recreational and water activities, and a trail system that connects the entire community when choosing what to do.

Location and Accommodation Planning

Paola is on US 169 Highway, about 30 minutes south of the Kansas City metropolitan area. This provides an approximate sense of the region’s location.

Explore more destinations: Louisburg, Osawatomie.

Go to the main travel overview: Miami.