Exploration Place Opens the Adventure Playscape, a New Regional Destination for Families

WICHITA, Kan. —  Exploration Place today opens the Adventure Playscape, a 6.5-acre outdoor destination on its riverfront campus designed to draw families from across the Midwest. The attraction features 10 themed environments inspired by Kansas’ landscape, heritage and identity. Full details are available in the accompanying fact sheet.

The Adventure Playscape is part of an emerging national movement in destination play, in which investment in world-class outdoor environments delivers dividends both for local families and for regional tourism.

“We decided to compete with the best destination play environments anywhere in the world — not to build something good enough for Wichita, but something good enough for anywhere,” said Adam Smith, president and CEO of Exploration Place.

Unlike a conventional playground, the Adventure Playscape integrates play equipment into a living landscape, with both given equal weight. The environments include what is believed to be the first aviation-themed playground of its scale anywhere in the world and one of the largest educational water play environments in the United States. The landscape features more than 40,000 plants emphasizing native Kansas species and grasses, 500 tons of Kansas limestone and 250 new trees selected to provide shade and comfort for visitors as the planting matures.

The design process coincided with a historic drought in Wichita from January 2023 to September 2025. Despite adding significant water play features, Exploration Place’s overall consumption of city water will actually decrease through efficiencies in irrigation design and stormwater management.

The Adventure Playscape was designed to be enjoyed by everyone. Exploration Place engaged a specialist accessibility consultant from the outset, ensuring that every environment addresses the full range of visitor needs, from wheelchair access and mobility to the needs of children who experience busy, stimulating environments differently. A dedicated sensory garden offers a calmer space within the playscape for those who need it.

The Adventure Playscape is designed for use not just during the daytime but after dark. Extended evening hours until 8 p.m. run during Spring Break and every evening during summer months. Approved media photography is available for download at www.exploration.org/playscapemedia.

The Adventure Playscape is included with general admission to Exploration Place. The mission of Exploration Place, Kansas’ premier science center, is to inspire a deeper interest in science and technology through creative and fun experiences for all. Exploration Place is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and until 8 p.m. on Thursdays. The museum opened in 2000 and welcomes 400,000 visitors annually.

Landscape

More than 40,000 plants will be established across the site, with an emphasis on native Kansas species and grasses. 250 new trees have been planted to provide shade, also marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. 500 tons of Flint Hills Gray limestone were brought to the site, quarried by US Stone, to emphasize the Kansas landscape.

Sustainability

Despite adding significant water play features, Exploration Place’s overall consumption of city water will decrease as a result of this project. Efficiencies in irrigation design and stormwater management more than offset the water used by the cascades and fog features.

Accessibility

Kanics Inclusive Design was engaged to embed accessibility into every aspect of the Adventure Playscape, treating it as a design value rather than a compliance requirement. Every environment was designed to be enjoyed by visitors of all ages and abilities. Exploration Place is a KultureCity Certified Sensory Inclusive Venue.

Project Support

The Adventure Playscape is a $25 million project supported by more than 600 individuals, corporations and foundations. Major funders include Textron Aviation, Junior League of Wichita, Kansas Department of Commerce, Sedgwick County, Koch, Dr. David and Mickie Brown, and Colby Sandlian.

Admission

General admission to Exploration Place includes the Adventure Playscape, all museum exhibits, live science shows, and unlimited dome films and laser shows. Adults are $20. Seniors and children are $15. Children 2 and under free. Free admission is available for visitors presenting an EBT/SNAP card through the Museums for All program.

Membership

An Exploration Place household membership is $150 per year, covering unlimited admission for a household to all museum exhibits, live science shows, dome movies, laser shows and the Adventure Playscape. Exploration Place currently serves more than 10,000 member households. Members also receive free admission at more than 350 other science centers and museums worldwide through the ASTC Passport Program.

Food and Beverage

The Adventure Playscape introduces Graze at Exploration Place, a new concessions venue offering burgers, wraps, salads and more. Ice cream is provided by Salted Creamery of Newton, Kansas, a local artisan producer.

Hours and Location

Exploration Place is located at 300 N. McLean Blvd, Wichita, Kan. It is open10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and until 8 p.m. on Thursdays year-round. The Adventure Playscape is designed for use after dark and is fully lit for evening visits. Extended evening hours until 8 p.m. run daily for the first eight days following opening and every evening during summer months.

Design Team

• Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects (master planner and overall design lead)
• Schaefer Architecture
• Kanics Inclusive Design
• Basis Engineering
• Garver Engineering
• Abundant Play Consultants
• Fluidity Design

Play Equipment Designers

Exploration Place conducted a worldwide search and assembled some of the world’s most celebrated play designers to create the Adventure Playscape:

• Monstrum (Denmark): Textron Aviation Flight Adventure, Bison Hill, Sunflower Meadow, and the combine harvester in Agriculture Overlook
• Richter Spielgeräte (Germany): Sensory Garden, Water Play Cascades and Slide Hill
• Kompan (Denmark/USA): Treetop Climber, Prairie Zipline, Foggy Flint Hills and remainder of Agriculture Overlook.

General Contractor

• Dondlinger and Sons Construction, Wichita, Kansas.

Significant Kansas Subcontractors

Linder and Associates, Seeders, Heartstone, Carr’s Mechanical, Continental Pools, Ten Works, Eck Monument, Metal Arts, Buckley Roofing, Wickham Glass Company, Hoppers Glass, Midwest Drywall, Star Flooring and Decorating, Complete Lawn Management, Lumineo Signs.