Together, We're Building More Than a Park.
We’re creating a place where people, dogs, and community come together to find connection, healing, and hope.
Imagine a Place...
You can bring your dog.
You can sit under a tree.
You can laugh too loudly.
You can talk about the hard stuff.
You can meet a stranger and leave with a friend.
You can remember someone you love.
You can simply show up exactly as you are.
This is the dream
Now let's make it real.
It takes a COMMUNITY TO BUILD a place like this.
It takes a community to build a place like this.
The Dakota Rogers Project isn't waiting for the perfect piece of land, the perfect building, or some magical someday when everything falls into place.
We're starting now.
We're creating connections.
We're hosting events.
We're having conversations about mental wellness.
We're building partnerships.
We're gathering people who believe that community can be part of the answer.
And every conversation, volunteer hour, donation, shared post, event, idea, and new friendship moves the vision one step closer.
The park may be the destination.
Dakota's Story
Why this matters
Dakota Rogers was a beloved Kansas City teenager with a warm heart, a joyful spirit, and a gift for making people feel welcome. He was accepting, wonderfully silly, endlessly curious, and always ready for his next adventure. He loved his dog, loved being around people, and had a way of bringing laughter wherever he went.
On October 16, 2022, Dakota’s life was tragically taken by a stranger. His loss left an unimaginable hole in the lives of his family, friends, and community. But the qualities that made Dakota who he was, his kindness, acceptance, adventurous spirit, and joy, continue to inspire us.
The Dakota Rogers Project is our way of carrying those qualities forward: transforming tragedy into connection, compassion, and hope, and creating a place where people, dogs, and community can come together.
We can’t change the past. Together, we can help shape what comes next.
Mental Wellness Park
Every experience in the park is intentionally designed to support mental wellness.
🌳 Healing – Tree of Life
🐾 Dogs Welcome – Dog Park
🎨 Creativity – Unique features
🤝 Community – Gathering spaces and lounging areas
Mental Wellness – Activities and resources
🌼 Reflection – Gardens and walking paths
🎵 Events – Community lawn
Care creates community
We cannot do this alone. Get involved. Your time, effort and donations (of any kind) are appreciated more than we can ever express