Pick-up chess at Independence park gains popularity [Video]

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (KCTV) – At George Owens Nature Park in Independence, you can enjoy the nature trails, wildlife, and on Thursdays, pick-up chess games.

“We started after COVID,” said Jeff Umbreit, a Parks and Rec Facility Supervisor. “It became a popular thing, and a lot of people had picked it up. We heard people were playing online, so we thought this was a good spot to get people to come together, build some community, and either learn to play chess or meet some new people playing chess in person.”

It’s become a hit and not just with one particular crowd.

“We get kindergarteners, homeschoolers, middle schoolers from across the street as they are getting out of school,” said Umbreit. “We see retired adults, people who don’t work on Thursdays. We see people anywhere from 3 or 4 years old to 70, 80.”

Richard Middleton has recently begun to show up, …