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StageCoach Park
1010 Main Street
Polo, Missouri 64671 |
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Polo,
Missouri is a small town located 45 minutes north of
Kansas City, Missouri. State Hwy 116 provides easy
access to Interstate 35 Exit 40, which is about 13 miles
to the west of Polo. According to the 2000 census, its
population is 582. There are about 1780 people in the
local zip code area.
Situated near the south end of Polo, on the east side of
Missouri Hwy 13, StageCoach park features a Community
Center Building, the Jeff Templeton Memorial Equine
Arena, a Covered Pavilion, Playground Equipment, and the
Zack Wheat Memorial Sports Complex.
StageCoach Park encompasses 30 acres and includes a
walking trail with a historic bridge from the small
village of New York, Missouri. The span, built in 1875,
was located along Otter Creek in Caldwell County. The
Iowa National Guard moved the bridge to Polo using
helicopters in January 2002 as part of a
specially-requested training exercise.
A gravel drive leads past the under-construction
Community Building to a pavilion with modern restroom
facilities. Playground equipment and a sand volleyball
court are nearby. The road continues over a dam to a
gravel parking lot between the equine multi-use arena
and the two baseball fields. A concession stand features
modern restrooms convenient to both areas. Both the
arena and ball fields feature lights for evening
recreation.
The equine facility, built in early 2002, has been open
to the public for general riding on days when there is
no show. Horse trailer parking is available in a grassy
field to the north of the arena. There are restroom
facilities, with actual flush toilets, available on show
days. Our fenced arena is 150 foot north to south and
300 foot east to west. Circle T Arena at StageCoach Park
in Polo is one of the largest equine arenas in the
state.
The Lone Rider’s Saddle Club has adopted a “Clean Slate”
policy for the Circle T Arena. Poles, Barrels, Jump
Stands and a small bridge are available for general use.
They are kept outside of the arena convenient to the
side gates. Anyone is welcome to use these items.
However, we ask that you remove all equipment from the
arena prior to leaving. If everyone will leave the arena
clear, then when we arrive for our fun we will find a
Clean Slate. We ask everyone to leave only hoof prints
and take only memories !!
On horse show days, concessions are excellent quality
and moderately priced. There is some bleacher seating.
Many folks bring lawn chairs and there is plenty of room
to set up and have a good view of the show from the hill
on the south. There is an unfenced practice area for
warming up.
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StageCoach Park History
StageCoach Park is on the south end of Polo. A stone
monument is visible from Hwy 13 for Baseball Hall of
Famer and local resident Zachariah Davis Wheat. His farm
included the park grounds in the 1920s and 1930s. Zack
was born in Hamilton, Missouri on May 23, 1888 and died
in Sedalia, Missouri on March 11, 1972. As a
professional baseball player, he was a model of
consistency. Zack collected 2,884 hits over 19 seasons
and still holds Dodger franchise records for career
hits, doubles, triples, and total bases. According to
Casey Stengel, Zack was "One of the grandest guys ever
to wear a baseball uniform, one of the greatest batting
teachers I have seen, one of the truest pals a man ever
had and one of the kindliest men God ever created."
StageCoach Park began with a generous land donation from
the Hill Top Grain Company (the Templeton family) in
memory of Jeffry Keith Templeton. Jeff was born March 3,
1958 and died on April 7, 2001 in Polo, Missouri after a
long battle with ALS/Lou Gehrig's Disease. Jeff grew up
on a rural farm to be an avid horseback rider, rancher
and true-hearted cowboy. His favorite place to be was
outdoors, talking to his hundreds of farmer friends in
dusty, heart to heart conversations. Jeff was a member
of the Missouri Cowboy Association, Promise Keepers the
StageCoach Park Development, and many other groups.
Jeff's motto was: “Because Nice Matters.”
The Polo Community Betterment Corporation secured
funding through the Missouri Parks and Recreation
Association’s Landmark Local Parks Program and the
Missouri Department of Economic Development’s
Neighborhood Assistance Program. Some construction is
still ongoing. The City of Polo owns and operates the 30
acre park with assistance from the People Who Care
Organization, the Polo Athletic Club, the Polo Volunteer
Fire Department and the Polo Lone Riders Saddle Club.
The people of Polo are the proud caretakers of the Zack
Wheat Memorial Sports Complex and the Circle T Jeff
Templeton Memorial Arena.
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