Jackson County beaches close for the weekend due to flooding

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Some people are making other holiday weekend plans after learning two Jackson County beaches will be closed over the weekend.

Two of the most popular: Longview Lake Beach and Blue Springs Lake Beach.

Longview Lake Beach and Blue Springs Lake Beach are both closed, Jackson County Parks and Recreation Operations Department Director Brian Nowotny said it’s due to flooding and heavy rains in the area.

“That certainly impacts how much water’s coming into the lake and how soon it will go down,” Nowotny said.

The sand volleyball court at Longview Lake Beach is more than halfway covered by water.

Longview Lake Beach is normally busy, full of people around the Fourth of July. This year, geese are the only ones enjoy it.

“Longview lake is fed by the Little Blue River and so the river and all the tributaries are still draining into the lake and then the lake drains back out at the dam,” Nowotny said. “So, it’s really just a matter of time, for those lake levels to go back down and the beach area will be visible again, and not under water and we can do those restoration activities.”

Longview Lake Beach and Blue Springs Lake Beach are closed through the weekend. The goal is to open the beaches by Monday.

“Once water recedes, we know we’ve got some restoration work that has to be done, mainly cleaning the sand, removing the debris, cleaning out the erosion that happens when the water is receding,” Nowotny said. “It always kind of cuts into the sand, so we have to add sand, clean the sand and reshape it so its safe for folks to be able to come out and enjoy the beaches.”

Nowotny also said the high water has closed parts of trails near the lakes, like at the Little Blue Trace Trail and Longview Trail.

“We’re evaluating once the water goes down and doing restoration on those trails to be able to reopen them, so we just ask for the public’s patience,” Nowotny said.

Makayla Loomis planned to hit the beach this holiday weekend, until she saw the park ranger steering people to open parts of the lake.

This Lee’s Summit woman settled for paddle boarding at Longview Lake Friday and drove to a different lake for beach time.

“I had to go to the Shawnee Mission Park Beach because of this one being closed,” Loomis said. “So, a little further away, but it was still a good time.”

Nowotny said they’re taking it day by day, monitoring the high water.

They hope to have the beaches open by Monday.

People have still been out on Longview lake, and the boat ramps are open. But again, the beach is closed, until the water recedes and Nowotny’s team gives residents the greenlight.

He said you can stay updated on their social media pages here .

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