Entry No. 36 — the Kansas City file — filed under: outdoor
Divine Mercy Park
This serene, hidden park is home to the largest Divine Mercy statue in the United States, a 25-foot-tall, 8,000-pound stainless steel sculpture of Jesus by artist Dale Lamphere. The park also features a 'Garden of Crosses' made from dead trees and repurposed light poles, alongside 150-year-old Stations of the Cross rescued from a collapsing monastery wall.
The story
You wouldn't expect to pull off Davidson Road in the Northland and find eight thousand pounds of polished stainless steel towering over a suburban retention pond, but that is precisely what is happening here. Installed at its current home in late 2008, artist Dale Lamphere’s 25-foot-tall figure of Jesus holds the title of the largest Divine Mercy statue in the United States. It is a striking piece of modern sculpture—stark, geometric, and towering over the treeline like something beamed down from a far more avant-garde cosmos.
Look past the giant steel monument, though, and the park reveals its weirder, scrap-saved soul. Encircling the water is a 'Garden of Crosses' assembled out of dead tree trunks, rough timbers, and salvaged street light poles. Placed along the walking loop are 150-year-old stone Stations of the Cross rescued directly from a collapsing monastery wall before the masonry gave way completely. The result feels less like a formal church garden and more like an outsider-art sanctuary where rescued relics and discarded infrastructure found a second life.
What it's like
Pull up to the lot on NE Davidson Road and you'll find a quiet, low-profile lakeside trail where neighborhood walkers share the loop with people who drove across state lines just to look at the steel. The vibe sits right at the intersection of quiet contemplation and surreal roadside architecture. Walk the full path around the water to check out the cobbled-together timber crosses, find a memorial bench, and view the 25-foot steel structure from every angle. It's free, rarely packed, and open daily, though you'll want to double-check posted hours before heading out.
The move: Walk the peaceful path around the park's lake, find a memorial bench to sit and chat, and explore the unique, folk-art-like Garden of Crosses under the giant steel gaze of the monument.
- 📍 Northland
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 3800 NE Davidson Rd, Kansas City, MO 64116
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Penguin Park — Pair the largest stainless steel Jesus in the country with Northland's iconic giant fiberglass penguin and kangaroo just five minutes down the road.
- Castle Northmoor — Keep your Northland trip of self-made eccentric monuments going by visiting a 40-foot medieval stone tower built single-handedly by a retired stonemason.
- Screenland Armour — Follow up a quiet walk under eight thousand pounds of steel with a cult film and a craft beer at North KC's historic indie cinema.
Good to know
How big is the main statue?
It stands 25 feet tall, weighs roughly 8,000 pounds, and is fabricated entirely out of stainless steel by sculptor Dale Lamphere.
What is the Garden of Crosses?
It is a folk-art-style installation around the lake built using dead tree trunks and repurposed utility light poles.
Where did the stone Stations of the Cross come from?
They are 150-year-old carved stations salvaged from a failing monastery wall before it collapsed.
Is there an entry fee?
No, Divine Mercy Park is free and open to the public.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: catholickey.org · roadsidearchitecture.com · cityoffountains.org · Official site
last checked: 2026-07-21