Prairie grasses were the fuel that overland travelers needed in order to feed their livestock. Remember, their oxen and other livestock were pioneers’ mode of transportation, so they had to care for their beasts of burden. Understanding the life cycle of ancient prairie grasses and sedges was critical for their survival and ultimate success in trekking west for 800-2,000 miles. If emigrants headed out west too early in the spring, there would not be sufficient vegetation growing to sustain their livestock and they would have to turn back and likely give up their dreams of heading west. Donated in 1993 by Lou and Topper Schumacher to the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department, Schumacher Park was dedicated on August 29, 2000. Outdoor interpretive exhibits and wayside markers focusing on the diversity of the Santa Fe Trail are available to visitors. The park includes a 1908 Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Santa Fe Trail marker. And then there’s the expansive view. The park is on the blue ridge at one of the highest elevations in Jackson County overlooking the Cerner Innovation Campus and affording a view of downtown Kansas City many miles away…very spectacular!