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The Pros And Cons Of Overland Park


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Money Magazine Cover, Best Places to Live 2010

Money Magazine's "Best Places to Live" article recently listed Overland Park, Kansas as one of the top ten cities in America. Having lived in Overland Park for several years, I would like to elaborate on the article so that individuals considering a move to Overland Park will be able to make a well-informed decision.

As mentioned in the Money Magazine article, the best feature of Overland Park is its school system. The schools in Overland Park are excellent. The parents in this community simply would not have it any other way. Blue Valley North High School in Overland Park, Kansas has won the blue ribbon for excellence award several times in the last decade. The teachers I have met have been professional, knowledgeable, and kind. They genuinely seem to love teaching. The students thrive in this district, and it is not uncommon for graduates of the local high schools to attend Ivy League universities after they graduate.

The article also mentions that Sprint recently fired some of its employees. Although this company was one of the major employers of the area, there are plenty of jobs to be had in Overland Park and the surrounding areas. Several nearby communities, such as Blue Springs, Missouri and Lee's Summit, Missouri, were also mentioned in the article as good places to live. Some residents of Overland Park work in one of these towns and commute. The proximity of these other thriving towns gives residents more job options.

Although Overland Park is located in Kansas, its population is more diverse than most people would initially believe. The article does not mention the large Jewish population in Overland Park. Roughly thirty percent of the students who attend Blue Valley North High School are Jewish. Many other minority students attend this school as well. The diversity of this community is one of its uncelebrated features.

One of my main complaints about Overland Park is how sprawling it is. Although there are small areas of neighborhood homes, Overland Park is dominated by strip malls and shopping centers. Fortunately, there is plenty of culture just a short drive away in Kansas City.

Editor's note, a few useful links: