La Benite Park in or adjacent to the town of Sugar Creek, MO was closed for some seven years, from the flood of 1993 to the summer of 2000. Prior to the flood it was a Jackson County park, but now it belongs to Sugar Creek. Since the park reopened, the public has discovered it again and one often sees boat trailers in the lot.
La Benite is under the MO hiway 291 bridge over the river. In greater Kansas City the river flows predominately eastward, so the right bank is the south side of the river. Access to the park is on the east side of 291 at the first road south of the bridge. From there one turns north on a little frontage road, and the park is directly ahead.
The boat ramp is somewhat beat from the flood and years of disuse and no maintenance, but it is usable Although La Benite is not far downstream from Kansas City, there is some pretty river either way from the park, although it is prettier for longer going downstream. A short way downstream on the left bank the river took an overland shortcut during the flood of '93, and it is still easy to see where it was.
There is a small MDC (Missouri Department of Conservation) area adjacent to La Benite on the downstream side of the existing park. It is as yet entirely undeveloped and there is no overland access, boat in only, which is nice if you'd like to go someplace wilder than road-accessible parks ever are.
Here is a little know park with a promising future. Enjoy this area and come back in the future to see the improvements. At one time this trail continued east from the park for 4.25 miles. Since the flood of ’93 the area was mostly abandoned and many trees have fallen and blocked the trail. Reconstruction of the trails is in the planning stages. I understand that funding has been secured to begin restoring La Benite park to the family friendly park it once was.
You will find plenty of opportunity to "trash out" in this area. Let me know of any problems with the cache.