
Good Morning, Leawood
Your Tuesday briefing for everything happening in Leawood
Leawood, Kansas | Tuesday, January 27, 2026 | 6 min read
Hello neighbors, this is James.
Hope everyone stayed warm this weekend. Our snow crews have been out clearing 447 lane miles of roads. This week we've got three fresh listings across town, the Chiefs continuing their coaching rebuild, a new study showing Overland Park needs a lot more housing, and a throwback to how Leawood got its name. Let's dive in.
Around Town
Snow Crews in Full Swing Leawood's snow removal team has been working around the clock after this weekend's snowfall. The department manages 447 lane miles of roadway, 388 cul-de-sacs, and 30 bridges using a priority system: arterial roads first, then collector streets, then residential areas. Source: City of Leawood
July 4th Parade Applications Open Mark your calendars: Leawood's Independence Day parade will roll down the newly reconstructed Tomahawk Creek Parkway this year as America celebrates its 250th birthday. Applications for parade entries are now open at leawood.org. Source: City of Leawood
New Online Permit System Live The city's new "Access Leawood" platform is now up and running, making it easier to submit building permits, business licenses, and schedule inspections online. If you've got a home project planned, check it out at leawood.org/access. Source: City of Leawood
Homes of the Week
The Leawood market has 110+ active listings with a median around $1M. Here are three worth a look this week:
9600 Belinder Rd — $520,000
3 bed | 3 bath | 1,561 sq ft Charming ranch in north Leawood on a quiet street. Updated kitchen, hardwood floors throughout, and a fenced backyard with mature trees. Walk to Leawood Elementary. → View on Redfin
4440 W 130th Ter — $725,000
4 bed | 4 bath | 4,537 sq ft Spacious two-story in Leawood South with over 4,500 square feet. Open floor plan, finished walkout basement, and a large deck overlooking the backyard. Blue Valley schools. → View on Redfin
2108 W 115th St — $1,249,000
3 bed | 3 bath | 4,302 sq ft Stunning custom home in Leawood's Ironwoods neighborhood. Vaulted ceilings, chef's kitchen with Wolf appliances, and a main-level primary suite. Walkout lower level with wet bar and theater room. → View on Redfin
City Hall
Planning Commission Meets Tonight The Planning Commission meets at 6:00 PM at City Hall (4800 Town Center Drive). Check the city calendar for agenda items.
Board of Zoning Appeals Tomorrow BZA meets Wednesday, January 28 at 5:30 PM at City Hall for variance requests and appeals.
Coming Up: The Governing Body holds its regular session on Monday, February 2. Source: City of Leawood Calendar
Metro Sports
Kansas City Chiefs (Offseason)
Staff Shakeup Continues. The Chiefs dismissed two more offensive assistant coaches last week as Eric Bieniemy continues reshaping the staff. The rebuild comes after a disappointing 6-11 season that saw the offense struggle with consistency.
Mahomes on the Mend. Patrick Mahomes opened up about his knee recovery and says he's on track for Week 1. Meanwhile, Creed Humphrey and Travis Kelce were named to the PFWA All-AFC team, with Humphrey earning All-NFL honors.
Draft Watch: Analysts expect the Chiefs to prioritize pass rush help with their top pick. Safety depth is also a concern if Bryan Cook leaves in free agency. Source: Arrowhead Pride
Kansas City Royals (Offseason)
Spring Training Countdown: Pitchers and catchers report February 12 to Surprise, Arizona. The team has been busy this offseason adding hitting coordinators Abrahan Nunez and Nic Jackson to revamp player development.
Stadium News: The outfield walls at Kauffman Stadium are moving in 9-10 feet for 2026, which should boost home runs for both teams.
Hall of Fame: Former Royal Carlos Beltran, the 1999 AL Rookie of the Year, was elected to Cooperstown. KC was where it all started for one of the game's best switch hitters. Source: MLB.com/Royals
Sporting Kansas City
Preseason Continues: Sporting dropped a 1-0 decision to Chicago Fire in a scrimmage in Palm Beach Gardens last week. Head coach Raphael Wicky's squad also signed free agent forward Calvin Harris. Regular season kicks off March 1. Source: Sporting KC
KC Current
Roster Taking Shape: The Current acquired forward Nichelle Prince in a trade with Boston and signed forward Amelia White to a two-year deal. The preseason schedule dropped last week with the team heading to the Coachella Valley Invitational. Season opener: March 14 at CPKC Stadium vs. Utah Royals. Source: KC Current
News from Our Neighbors
Overland Park Needs More Housing A new city assessment found Overland Park has a persistent housing shortage. The 2021 Johnson County Housing Study said the city needed to build about 1,420 new units annually through 2030. Reality? Fewer than 700 per year since 2020. The city is now looking at incentive programs to close the gap. Source: Johnson County Post
Prairie Village City Hall Demo This Spring Prairie Village will officially break ground on its new city hall project with demolition of the old church structure starting this spring. A modernized Macy's space at the Shops of Prairie Village is also expected to wrap up in 2026. Source: Johnson County Post
Olathe's $320M Sports Complex Moving Forward Olathe's proposed "ultra-accessible" special incentive district near 119th and Renner is planned to feature a 5,000-seat multisport complex. City leaders see it as a regional draw for tournaments and events. Source: Johnson County Post
Things to Do
For Grown-Ups
Jeff Dunham — Wednesday, January 28 Cable Dahmer Arena, Independence | 7 PM | Tickets from $50 The ventriloquist and comedian brings his cast of characters to Independence. → Tickets
The Cactus Blossoms with Angela Autumn — Wednesday, January 28 Knuckleheads | 8 PM | $25 Minneapolis-based brother duo bringing their vintage country sound. → Tickets
Candlelight: The Beatles — Saturday, February 7 Unity Temple on the Plaza | 6:30 PM | From $31 String quartet performs Beatles hits by candlelight. Worth the short wait. → Tickets
For Families
Winter Jam 2026 — Saturday, January 31 T-Mobile Center | Doors 6 PM | $15 donation at the door Chris Tomlin, Matthew West, Katy Nichole, and more. No tickets required — just a $15 donation gets you in. Pre-Jam Party with additional performers before the main show. → Info
Girl Scout Junior Space Science Badge — Friday, January 31 Ernie Miller Nature Center | 4-7 PM | $27-29 Badge program covering space exploration, astronomy basics, and hands-on activities. → Register at JCPRD
For Everyone
Titanic: An Immersive Voyage — Ongoing through April 19 Union Station | Tickets vary Walk through recreated ship spaces and hear stories of passengers and crew. Note: Science City and the Planetarium are closed until February 7 for staff training. → Info
Crown Center Ice Terrace — Open daily Crown Center | Check hours | $9 skate rental The outdoor skating rink is in its 53rd season. Bundle up and enjoy the downtown views. → Info
Throwback
How Leawood Got Its Name
1922: Oscar G. Lee, a retired Oklahoma police officer, arrives and buys up land between what's now 79th and 103rd Streets, from State Line to Belinder Road. His last name gives us "Lee" — the "wood" came from the dense tree cover on his property.
1948: Following a housing development by the Kroh brothers, Leawood officially incorporates as a city. Population at the time? A few hundred.
Today: 78 years later, we're 35,000 strong with parks, top-rated schools, and that same vision the founders had: big city convenience, small town feel.
Before all of this, of course, the land was home to Native Americans. And in the early 1700s, Daniel Boone himself passed through with French and American traders along what would become the Santa Fe Trail.
Not bad for a place named after a retired cop from Oklahoma.
Source: City of Leawood
That's a Wrap
Thanks for reading Leawood Weekly. We'll be back in your inbox next Tuesday with what's happening in town, what's worth your time, and what the neighbors are up to.
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Stay warm out there, Leawood.
— James
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