Center of the West opens western-themed play area

The Buffalo Bill Center of the West welcomes kids and their families to our American West-themed play area, opened in the fall of 2016. Located in our Cashman Greever Garden, the new playground honors cherished community member, Tami Collier, who passed away in 2015.

Gretchen Henrich, the Center’s Director of the Interpretive Education Division, notes, “Our outdoor playground allows children to learn about the West not just by passively observing, but actually doing.” She adds, “The playground also allows local children, as well as those who have been traveling, to let off some steam.”

The play area is just outside the Kuyper Dining Pavilion, so parents can enjoy a snack or meal on the patio while they watch their children play. The playground is just one part of an Outdoor Play Area in the garden, where numerous family friendly activities take place throughout the summer.

The project began two years ago when area children were asked to draw what they deemed to be essential elements in a playground. Playgrounds by Leathers took those drawings plus staff input to design the Center’s play area. Gail Construction of Cody was the general contractor with assistance from dozens of local volunteers.

Click here to read more about the play area project.

Since 1917, the award-winning Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming, has devoted itself to sharing the story of the authentic American West. The Center is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. For additional information, visit centerofthewest.org or the Center’s Facebook page.