Balancing on logs in a meadow of sunflower-shaped play equipment, turning a crank to send water flowing uphill, climbing through and sliding out of the belly of a 20-foot-tall bison. Adventure Playscape at Exploration Place has transformed Wichita's premier science center into a full day of adventure for all ages.

Opened in March 2026, the nearly 6.5-acre, $27 million outdoor expansion sits along the banks of the Arkansas River near downtown Wichita and is open year-round, weather permitting.

Inspired by Kansas' landscapes, industries and wildlife, the playscape features 10 interactive zones celebrating everything from aviation and agriculture to bison and sunflowers. Slides, swings, ropes, zip lines, climbing structures, water features and sensory experiences encourage kids and adults alike to learn through play.

Designed for every stage of childhood, Adventure Playscape includes spaces for toddlers taking their first steps through Sunflower Meadow to older kids and adventurous adults climbing, zipping and sliding across the expansive outdoor destination.

Close up at Adventure Playscape

How to visit the Adventure Playscape

Adventure Playscape is fully fenced and staffed with controlled entry points. Admission is included with regular Exploration Place tickets, as well as free admission programs including Sunflower Summer for Kansas students, Museums for All, Blue Star Museums and participating library memberships.

Your admission also includes unlimited access to Exploration Place's indoor exhibits, live science demonstrations, Dome theater films and laser shows. While you're there, check out the Wichita Foundation Amphitheater, which hosts movies, concerts, fitness classes and festivals throughout the year.

Adventure Playscape Slide

What to expect

Adventure Playscape was designed with accessibility at its core, creating a space where visitors of all ages and abilities can play together. Accessible features are woven throughout the playground, including a wheelchair-accessible carousel, ground-level activities and inclusive play elements.

The site is also home to more than 250 newly planted trees and 40,000 plants that will continue to mature over time. Shade structures provide relief while the landscape grows.

Need a break? Stop by Graze, the seasonal outdoor eatery serving burgers, wraps, salads and other family favorites, or take advantage of one of six family restrooms located throughout the playscape.

A new rocket ship is installed at the Exploration Place website.

10 themed, interactive play zones

The 10 zones within the expansive the Adventure Playscape encourage creativity, movement and hands-on exploration. Beyond traditional playgrounds, each is an immersive experience thoughtfully designed to spark curiosity and imagination.

Textron Aviation Flight Adventure

  • As thrilling as flight itself, the playscape’s largest zone is anchored by a Beechcraft Staggerwing-inspired biplane atop an air traffic control tower, an explorable Cessna Citation business jet replica at ground level and a 40-foot-tall climbable rocket with a slide to the ground.

Two young girls play in the water at Water Play Cascades at the Adventure Playscape at Exploration Place.

Junior League of Wichita Water Play Cascades

  • Another centerpiece of the playscape, this multisensory zone is designed to be as much fun when dry as when the water is running mid-spring through mid-fall (weather permitting). The tiered rocks and boulders are fun to climb anytime; they turn into waterfalls, channels and shallow wading pools when the water is on. Explore teamwork and collaboration among water jets, choreographed lighting and other moving components.

Sunflower Meadow

  • An area restricted to ages 5 and younger explores the life cycle of a sunflower with engaging elements like bee bouncers, leaf climbers, flower spinners and more.

Treetop Climber

  • At 100 feet long and 23 feet tall, this climbing structure features ropes, nets, hammocks and other play pieces at ground level and above.

Prairie Zip Line

  • Older kiddos will love these twin zip lines designed for simultaneous play.

Bison Hill

  • A larger-than-life bison structure features a climbable interior, observation platforms and a tube slide. It stands in the zone within a river setting featuring a canoe, tent site and faux campfire. There’s also a rock structure with a slide and interior tunnels and caverns.

Sensory Gardens

  • Three separate sensory gardens offer a respite to connect with the outdoor space. Indoor and outdoor, Exploration Place has partnered with accessibility partners to provide a more sensory-inclusive environment for people of all ages and abilities. This includes trained staff, marked quiet spaces and sensory bags that feature noise-canceling headphones, weighted lap pads and more.

Agriculture Overlook

  • Swing on swing sets overlooking the Arkansas River, climb in and on a combine and shimmy up giant stalks of wheat at this riverside spot.

Fog at Adventure Playscape

Foggy Flint Hills

  • Water-based fog gently rises from the ground, blanketing the hills in a misty cover that heightens the excitement of rolling down or climbing through them. The fog effect is seasonal and adjusts with the weather, creating a dynamic experience throughout the year.

Slide Hill

  • There are 18 slides throughout the entire playscape, including this cluster of slides that make getting back to ground level from the rocket a lot of fun!

Adventure Playscape is just one of the many reasons families are making Wichita a must-visit destination. Pair your visit with more than 50 attractions, 1,200-plus restaurants, award-winning zoo, hands-on museums and unforgettable experiences throughout Kansas' largest city.