From cars to trains to fire engines, these playgrounds celebrate all things that go!
R Park, Roeland Park—At this park, you’ll find a unique attraction called a traffic garden. This “garden” is actually a path resembling a miniature road, complete with dotted white lines, stop signs, hills and roundabouts. Designed to teach children about bicycle safety and road laws, this path is a blast for young bicyclers and scooter- riders. Don’t forget to check out the park’s fantastic inclusive playground!
Arthur and Betty Verhaeghe Park, Overland Park—There’s a lot to loveabout this farm-themed playground, but my favorite feature is its tractor play structure. The large green tractor provides ample opportunities for climbing and pretending. Another fun touch is the benches, which have wagon wheels incorporated into their designs. The playground also has slides, swings, two play areas resembling barns and an adorable calf sculpture to climb on.
T.B. Hanna Station Park, Raymore, Mo.—Built on the grounds of an old train depot, this park honors its history with its railroad-themed splash pad. The most iconic feature is the train, which has a built-in tunnel and shoots water from its smokestack. Other amenities include splash buckets, sprinklers, overhead spray jets and color-changing LED lights. The sprayground is accessible to children with disabilities, as is the park’s nearby playground.
Frank Vaydik Park, Kansas City, Mo.— All aboard! This location has a small-scale railroad that loops around the park and passes through a dark tunnel. The train runs on weekends and holidays from May to early fall, and tickets generally cost $1 or less. After you return from your train ride, make sure to visit the park’s railroad- themed play area, which has wooden trains and a pretend handcar.
Belton Memorial Park, Belton— Visitors love this park’s inclusive playground, which has play structures resembling a fire engine and a train. These vehicles have multiple interactive elements, including a tunnel. Other popular attractions at the playground include swings, slides, climbing nets and a three-person seesaw.