Strang Line - Overland Park, KS

Strang Line takes its name from Overland Park's founder, William B. Strang Jr., who built several subdivisions in the city between 1905 and 1921, the year he died. Historic Santa Fe Commons Park, just south of the neighborhood, contains a stone carriage house left over from Strang's estate.

Overland Park itself became incorporated as a city in 1960, and its population grew steadil, and now houses more than 175,000 people. Retail establishments became more prominent during growth in the 1960s through the 1980s.

Several events in Overland Park celebrate the city's heritage. Once per year in September, an art and music festival comes to Santa Fe Commons Park for residents to enjoy.

Plenty of restaurants, bars and nightlife surround Strang Line, especially to the south and east along Metcalf Avenue and Santa Fe Drive. Ethnic cuisine, national chains and a few higher-end eateries close to the neighborhood provide a wide variety of culinary possibilities.

Papa Keno's Pizzeria, at Santa Fe Drive and 79th Street, features thin crust pizzas up to 26 inches across. You cannot go wrong with a single slice of pizza as big as your face. Twenty specialty pizzas await your palate, and exotic toppings such as almonds, sauerkraut, broccoli and cream cheese make Papa Keno's menu stand out. The Don Ho specialty pizza comes with broccoli, pineapple, spinach, almonds and ricotta cheese. The bandito version of pizza contains ground beef, jalapeños, onions and roma tomatoes on top of taco sauce instead of pizza sauce. Choose from nearly 35 toppings, including eight different cheeses, to blend whatever flavors you want.

Wyandot BBQ has a simple menu but great barbecued meats. A sandwich comes with bread or a bun filled with beef, ham, turkey or pork. A whole smoked chicken comes to your plate plump and juicy. Bite into the brisket sandwich, and enjoy the sauce, which continues to win over customers and keep them coming back time and time again. This sauce infiltrates every grilled dish at Wyandot BBQ, including the ribs. You can even take home an entire gallon of the sauce to use on your own grill. Try the burnt ends to get a taste of everything, mixed with sauce of course, to discover what real Kansas City barbecue tastes like.

Cozy's Café opens for breakfast, lunch and dinner serving American and Italian favorites. For dinner, the grilled lamb chops with spinach, rice and asparagus forms a well-rounded meal with a lot of flavor. The freshly baked homemade lasagna marks a hearty treat for anyone who needs a thick, rich pasta dish filled with cheese, meat sauce and spinach alongside a small salad. Try the spinach and cheese ravioli served with sausage and tomato sauce.

One of the best bars in Overland Park, Burg & Barrel sits one block east of Strang Line on 76th. Pick from one of 10 signature gourmet hamburgers from the kitchen menu while deciding which of the hundreds of beers to drink with your meal. At least a dozen brews come from the tap. The website announces which beers have just been tapped, and a keg icon shows how much beer is left in a particular tap. Plus, some beers have organic or gluten-free ingredients. Enjoy nightlife until 2 a.m., or come in for regular classes on whiskey and beer.

Every street in Strang Line has a sidewalk for pedestrians to walk easily from one block to the next. Most houses have driveways, so bicycles can move through the neighborhood effortlessly. Cyclists should watch out for cars on bigger streets, such as Metcalf and 75th. Santa Fe Drive has bicycle-friendly markings and a few traffic circles to slow down vehicular traffic.

Nearby parks, restaurants and shopping centers contain plenty of free parking spots. Take 75th Street about 10 blocks west to meet up with U.S. 56/Interstate 35 north to get to Kansas City. If you just need a lift, several taxi services can come to your aid, and Uber serves the area as well.

Johnson County Transit picks up passengers at 75th and Metcalf on weekdays from 6:02 a.m. to 6:33 p.m. to meet up with KCATA stops closer to Kansas City. Johnson County's transit system takes passengers all over Overland Park.

Santa Fe Commons Park, two blocks south of the neighborhood, contains historic remnants of Overland Park's founding and houses the Overland Park Historical Society. Marty Park, just to the north, has a swimming pool open during the summer. Young's Park has tennis courts, a walking and biking trail, and a public pool. Bring your leashed dogs to any of the parks, but be prepared to clean up after them.

Santa Fe Commons Park hosts free outdoor music concerts every Sunday evening during warm summer months. Bring a blanket and food, and listen to live entertainment for two hours a week. The Overland Park Fall Festival occurs one Saturday in late September with a parade, live music, high school bands and artist booths in Santa Fe Commons Park.

Living in Overland Park costs more than downtown Kansas City because Overland Park offers a higher quality of city services, county services and health care. A one-bedroom apartment costs about $602 per month.

A one-way fare on the JO will set you back $2.25, while a commuter express ride is $3.50 for one-way tickets. Gas runs approximately 16 percent lower than the national average, and a pint of beer at a local pub costs around $4.

Many local shops and establishments exist within a few blocks of Strang Line. Price Chopper, just one block from the northeast corner of the neighborhood on 75th, marks the closest grocery store. The Overland Park Farmers' Market, one block south of the neighborhood, sells local produce from April to November.

Adorn Beautique has everything you need to relax and feel pampered by appointment only. Get a spray tan, eyelash extensions, facials and body waxes. Women, men and children get haircuts or hair styles here. Color your hair, add highlights or go for a full perm. Book your appointment online or over the phone, come in for your spa service, and become a whole new you before you walk out the door.

Tanks A Lot is a unique store filled with custom-made fish tanks with exotic and saltwater species. Have the tank techs design a tank for your home, depending on the types of fish you want. Tanks A Lot sells new and used equipment, orders fish or sea creatures from all over the world and offers free phone consultations. If you need an aquarium moved, the guys at Tanks A Lot can do that too. Kids love looking at the tropical fish in the store's showroom, so stop in to get an estimate for your fish tank.