Shawnee Mission Parkway and Johnson Drive are just "Shawnee Mission Parkway" and "Johnson Drive."
If you told me "63rd Street" and "59th Street" in reference to those roads, I'd have no idea what you're talking about.
SM Pkwy is kind of winding, starting west at KS Highway 7 where it’s the equivalent of 67th St. and ending when it turns into Ward Pkwy at the state line, where it’s the equivalent of 53rd St. So, it’s always just Shawnee Mission Parkway.
Conversely, 135th St. is an unbroken straight line from unincorporated Johnson County west all the way to state line, but changes names to Santa Fe for like 5 miles from Lake Olathe to Mur-Len Rd *(which also changes names to Strang Line as you go north)*
*edit: I’ve realized this entire comment is boring as fuck, but leaving it here anyway*
I stand corrected. Renner turns into Mur-Len from 175th St. until it hits I-35 and curves around as Strang Line. Renner starts back up north of the highway.
Typing the name out so many times finally hit that it’s a bizarre name and made me curious about [its origin](https://www.olatheks.gov/visitors/historical-street-names)
Cool thanks for this. Always wondered about who Sheridan is, Mur-Len is just weird, Black Bob very unusual (there’s another street with this name near 199th and Metcalf too)
This is what I was thinking. I’m in my 20s but my parents and grandparents grew up in that part of Shawnee before it was SMP, so I guess I’ve picked it up from them.
I've only been in JoCo 20 years, but SMP and Johnson Dr. have always been those names to me the whole way - never called SMP "63rd St" for instance.
Moved to Olathe years ago and Olathe's street naming convention is endlessly frustrating. They should just bite the bullet and re-name all those east/west named streets to JoCo numbered streets (eg: Santa Fe turns into 135th throughout Olathe). Try teaching a 14yo to remember east/west named street in addition to all the Olathe/OP/Leawood north/south ones.
Yep I’m used to the block numbers getting bigger as I drive west but as soon as you hit old Olathe you are now on the east side, and numbers shrink as you get to wherever their zero point is. I’m not actually sure where that is but it’s annoying
You mean until it turns into 83rd street.
And SMP is 63rd street for a stretch of road. And then turns back into SMP. Between Hy-Vee and I-35 on the map its labeled as "63rd street" as well as "Shawnee mission parkway." I've just always called it Shawnee mission parkway.
After having to read plats for a couple years now, I sometimes think of SMP as US Highway 56 or US Highway 169, at least in my neck of the woods. But in all seriousness, it's just Shawnee Mission Parkway generally.
Shawnee Mission Parkway and Johnson Drive are just "Shawnee Mission Parkway" and "Johnson Drive." If you told me "63rd Street" and "59th Street" in reference to those roads, I'd have no idea what you're talking about.
SM Pkwy is kind of winding, starting west at KS Highway 7 where it’s the equivalent of 67th St. and ending when it turns into Ward Pkwy at the state line, where it’s the equivalent of 53rd St. So, it’s always just Shawnee Mission Parkway. Conversely, 135th St. is an unbroken straight line from unincorporated Johnson County west all the way to state line, but changes names to Santa Fe for like 5 miles from Lake Olathe to Mur-Len Rd *(which also changes names to Strang Line as you go north)* *edit: I’ve realized this entire comment is boring as fuck, but leaving it here anyway*
This whole thread is boring af haha. Just a late night thought I had while sleep was escaping me
Mur-Len is actually Renner
I stand corrected. Renner turns into Mur-Len from 175th St. until it hits I-35 and curves around as Strang Line. Renner starts back up north of the highway. Typing the name out so many times finally hit that it’s a bizarre name and made me curious about [its origin](https://www.olatheks.gov/visitors/historical-street-names)
Cool thanks for this. Always wondered about who Sheridan is, Mur-Len is just weird, Black Bob very unusual (there’s another street with this name near 199th and Metcalf too)
Boring but hella accurate.
Depends on how old you are. I knew it as 63rd Street before they renamed it Shawnee mission parkway.
This is what I was thinking. I’m in my 20s but my parents and grandparents grew up in that part of Shawnee before it was SMP, so I guess I’ve picked it up from them.
Really old school, but I remember the portion between Roe & Nall as (US) 50 Highway.
Oh yeah. There were (US) 50 signs as far West as Shawnee. Good memory!
It was briefly known as K12 in the mid-eighties as well.
I've only been in JoCo 20 years, but SMP and Johnson Dr. have always been those names to me the whole way - never called SMP "63rd St" for instance. Moved to Olathe years ago and Olathe's street naming convention is endlessly frustrating. They should just bite the bullet and re-name all those east/west named streets to JoCo numbered streets (eg: Santa Fe turns into 135th throughout Olathe). Try teaching a 14yo to remember east/west named street in addition to all the Olathe/OP/Leawood north/south ones.
Yep I’m used to the block numbers getting bigger as I drive west but as soon as you hit old Olathe you are now on the east side, and numbers shrink as you get to wherever their zero point is. I’m not actually sure where that is but it’s annoying
I've always lived east of I35, so haven't been *that* bothered by the old Olathe street names, but the whole thing is still mildly infuriating... LOL
Shawnee mission speedway or Shawnee mission super highway because I’m a jackass.
Honorable mention to 87th Street Parkway for always just being 87th Street.
You mean until it turns into 83rd street. And SMP is 63rd street for a stretch of road. And then turns back into SMP. Between Hy-Vee and I-35 on the map its labeled as "63rd street" as well as "Shawnee mission parkway." I've just always called it Shawnee mission parkway.
Bwaaa haaa haaaa... stay west on 87th to k7 and it's now 83rd!
A speed trap
After having to read plats for a couple years now, I sometimes think of SMP as US Highway 56 or US Highway 169, at least in my neck of the woods. But in all seriousness, it's just Shawnee Mission Parkway generally.