A Dream Playground at a Museum

A New Way to Play at the Center

Children’s Playground Design Form

Building a dream playground at a museum? Sometimes we may think that these two things might not fit together. In the past, museums may have been viewed as quiet reverent places—similar to a library. While this reflection and learning is important, fun is important too! Sometimes, the best museum experience and learning happens when children can learn while playing. In response to the needs of our younger visitors, the Center is planning a playground area with a goal of opening to our visitors by summer 2015!

Our Outdoor Themed Playground will allow children to learn about the West by not just passively observing, but actually doing. Our playground area will allow local children as well as those who have been traveling, to let off some steam.

The Center’s goal is to provide a safe environment for the kids and a relaxed atmosphere for their parents. We can better protect our collections by suggesting a place to run and expend energy that is not in our galleries. After time spent on the playground, kids and adults alike can return to our galleries refreshed and ready to enjoy and learn all that our museum collections have to offer.

A Dream Playground at a Museum: Making the Vision a Reality

We are working with Leathers and Associates, a playground company that has had more than 40 years of experience building play structures. They are sending us designer Jane Lewis Holman to create a design for our very own custom playground. The process starts with the kids! The kids are encouraged to draw their dream playground. They can submit their design ideas using the Children’s Playground Design Form. We ask kids to submit their ideas by October 28, 2014.

Our designer, Jane, will be on-site to design our dream playground at a museum at the end of October. Our playground design will be revealed at our Hootin’ Howlin’ Halloween Event Friday, October 31 from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. During that time, all of the children’s submitted designs will be on display too. Please plan to join us for the unveiling of our design of a dream playground at a museum!

There are many ways everyone can be involved in this new venture for the Center! There will be opportunities to support through your design ideas, volunteering of time, and donations of materials or money. If you are interested in learning more or becoming involved in the development of our playground area, please feel free to contact me at [email protected]. Help us build a dream playground at a museum!