Trails in Wallace Park

There are three interconnecting trails in Wallace Park: Park View, Rock Stadium, and Bull Creek Trails. Surfaces are primarily of limestone screenings. Each of the trailheads offers parking, trash/recycling containers, and pet waste stations. The kiosks feature a full map of the entire park, as well as a detailed map of that specific trail and how it connects with the other two. Donor-sponsored benches are located at strategic spots along the trails to provide a place to sit and enjoy the restful sounds of rippling water, children at play, refreshing breezes, or the surrounding landscape in general.

Wallace Park Drive is the main entrance to the park — just off Osage Street on the south end of Paola. It is a one-way street with a designated bike lane. The street leads visitors directly to the municipal swimming pool, playground, 10 ball diamonds, basketball and tennis courts, skateboard park, comfort station, portable toilets, picnic shelters, and tables throughout the park. In addition to trailhead parking lots, access to trails can be made from several drive-through parking areas along Wallace Park Drive.

 The Trails

Park View Trail – high on the hill

Sponsored by Miami County Medical Center

• Distance: 1 mile (outer perimeter loop)

• Surface: Limestone screening with short sections of asphalt or concrete

• Trailhead location: West of caretaker’s house

• Exposure: Mix of sun and shade

• Features:

  • Users pass basketball and tennis courts before choosing to meander (right) toward the skateboard park and playground or (left) through the quieter open meadow

  • Magnificent views of Wallace Park and the surrounding area

  • Comfort station (closed in winter) / Portable toilet near playground (year-round)

Rock Stadium Trail – named for historic stadium built in 1934

Sponsored by First Option Bank

• Distance options:

  • Soccer field loop: .9 mile

  • Stadium loop: .4 mile

• Surface: Limestone screening with short, steep grades that dip and rise in and out of timber along creek; circles around soccer fields with straight, level trail

• Trailhead location: South of playground and swimming pool

• Exposure: Mix of sun and shade

• Features:

  • Trail first leads south then east, featuring two loops

Bull Creek Trail – southwest corner of park

Sponsored by The Baehr Foundation, First Option Trustee

• Distance: .5 mile

• Surface: Limestone screening; most level grade of park trails — for all ages and abilities

• Trailhead location: Near Bull Creek Bridge, south of Wallace Street and S. Silver Street (Old KC Road) intersection

• Exposure: Primarily shaded

• Features:

  • Trail first leads south then east through woods following Bull Creek

  • Towering cottonwood, sprawling sycamore, and majestic oak trees

  • Abundant varieties of wildlife 

Trail Progress

See how the Wallace Park trails came to life with this photo gallery: