HISTORY
Dr. Johnston Lykins Square was acquired by condemnation in 1913.

It was one of three neighborhood parks George Kessler proposed for the northeast district of the city. The Board of Parks Commissioners acquired and substantially completed Lykins Square, Ashland Square, and Sheffield Park from 1911-17.  In 1914, the houses standing in the new Lykins Square were removed and basements and cisterns were filled. The park was graded and sodded by 1916.

Lykins Square was named for Lykins School, formerly located just north of the park, on Seventh Street. The elementary school was named for Dr. Johnston Lykins, who became Kansas City’s first legal mayor in 1853 and who deeded the land on which the school was built to the Kansas City Board of Public Schools in 1865.

Why the first ‘legal’ mayor?  Because, in 1853, William S. Gregory was elected mayor and Dr. Lykins was elected to the City Council.  However shortly after the election, it was discovered that Mr. Gregory had not lived within the city limits the required amount of time to be eligible for office.  He resigned and, as President of the City Council, Dr. Johnston Lykins became mayor of the City of Kansas.  Dr. Lykins completed the term and was elected mayor again in 1854.