4916
Sherwood Estates had its boundaries. Slightly over one-half square mile of single-family homes, newly established in 1955. The same year as my birth, and Disney Land. Seedlings were brought from THE Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, England, and planted within its boundaries. The only other geographically comparable neighborhood was River Forest, south of Sherwood and just a few miles north of the Missouri River. The Mighty Mo represented, and still does, an emphatic dividing line between Kansas City’s Northland and its South communities.
In 1958, on my third birthday, I took my father’s hand and stared into the gargantuan concrete hole that was the foundation on which 4916 would be built. A new and memorable age was ushered in.
In some ways, we isolated ourselves within the Sherwood boundaries. It was a self-contained village, with everything that a child could ask for. Flanked by lakes, the Winwood Boardwalk, schools and churches. Summers saw a rush of families to our Mirror Lake Town club, savoring long sunny days of swimming and social events. Missouri’s first outdoor open-air mall, known as Antioch, opened in 1956. It sat along our NW corridor, opening endless windows and worlds to our, already enhanced, experiences.
It seemed that those within its boundaries looked on folks from the outside, with kind curiosity. They looked back at us with similar interest, passing from surrounding communities and making their way quietly through. Most were destined for TG&Y’s penny candy counter, Toasties for a grilled cheese sandwich, or another of Antioch’s fanciful destinations.
The neighborhood was filled with children. Many children. Large families, and endless friend possibilities. My Lebanese grandmother referred to the next-door neighbor boy as “Prunes”. She didn’t understand his American name. Then, just a tick to round a corner for Kathy, Jimmy, Cynthia, Mary, and Mark. It was a short block to my best friend’s busy home with seven siblings.
Because 4916 sat on the far west border of Sherwood, we had a super large lot, complete with a full-size authentic wishing well. We bordered on woods and a stream that spilled from the ultra-modern hamlet of BuMar Acres. Their town codes were more lenient, which meant that we had a lovely paint horse, Apache, living at the edge of our back yard, courtesy of the Porter family.
While half of our young peers boarded school busses bound for Golden Oaks and Lakewood public elementary schools, my siblings and I walked the short mile from 4916, on the west edge, to St. Gabriel the Archangel School, on the east edge. There was a maze of street combinations that would lead to the same destination, providing lively social opportunities and the gathering of fellow trekkers.
Our school was surrounded by family homes, a convent, a rectory, and flanked by the lakes and town club. 1965 saw the grand opening of Penguin Park, with festive ribbon-cutting by the youngsters of Sherwood. It remains a destination family park today. Happy 60th birthday Penguin.
The Benedictine sisters from Fort Smith, Arkansas provided our education. This was a blessing that no one ever seemed to doubt. The sisters gifted 4916 with Christmas time visits. Though they were not allowed to come into our home, we enjoyed yearly wonderment as they gathered holly just outside our living room picture window. The fruits of their harvest would be used for the church’s nativity scene and alter decorations.
The years carried on, and when it was time for our daughter and future son-in-law to prepare for their wedding, they chose April 9th of 2016 for their date. Expressed another way, they chose 4916.
Or, perhaps, 4916 chose them.
Love to all the critters, children, grownups, and memories that blessed us there. Love to 4916.
Julia Theresa Kovač
November 20, 2025
All generative AI banned by this author.