Wichita on the Cheap

Live the Good Life for Less & Never Miss a Deal

Kids to Parks Day

Kids to Parks Day is an annual “National Day of Outdoor Play” on the third Saturday of May, which was established by the National Park Trust in an effort to help kids and families get out and enjoy their local, state, and national parks.

Family fun at Wichita parks

This nationwide celebration was launched in May of 2011. Each year, the NPT works with cities and towns, parks and public lands officials, teachers, and more to invite kids across the country to have an adventure at one of thousands of parks.

To help reach this goal, they have numerous events and resources on their website, including some pretty cool printable activities like scavenger hunts, games, and other ideas to use when you’re at a park.

Kids doing activities at a park

This year, you can find three fun ways to celebrate Kids to Parks Day in the Wichita area.

Haysville Kids to Parks Day event on June 15 (FREE, bring kites if you have them)

Great Plains Nature Center Walk with Wildlife on May 18 ($2, not technically a KTP event, but happening on the same day)

Wichita Kids to Parks Day

On May 18, 2019 The city Park & Recreation Department is hosting a FREE Kids to Parks Day family event at O.J. Watson Park featuring Barry the Bison’s Recreation Station games and other activities:

  • mini golf
  • pedal boats
  • kayaking
  • Recreation Station activities
  • and more!

O.J. Watson Park is a really fun place for kids. It has pedal boats, kayak rentals, miniature golf, a little train to ride, numerous playgrounds, a yellow brick road (of course!), and pony rides.

Some of the activities at Watson Park do charge a small fee, and they will be available after the Kids to Parks Day event is over at noon. It’s very inexpensive though, and some of those activities will be free during the Kids to Parks Day event from 10 a.m. to noon.

Find out more about free and cheap events at O.J. Watson Park

Related: Free and cheap things to do with kids in Wichita

Get free Kids to Parks printable resources

Latest Articles from Wichita on the Cheap:

FREE Swimming Days at Wichita Pools

FREE Swimming Days at Wichita Pools

I remember when I first heard about Wichita's FREE swimming days! They have them for each of the city's pools throughout the summer. Can you

Free Yoga and Zumba at Exploration Place, Saturdays in Wichita

Free Yoga and Zumba at Exploration Place, Saturdays in Wichita

Exploration Place is hosting free Yoga and Zumba classes in Wichita on Saturdays! That's right, you can take a yoga and/or Zumba class on Saturday

Wichita Public Library Used Book Bag Sale

Wichita Public Library Used Book Bag Sale

Is there anything better than saving money on a great book? How about saving lots of money on lots of books at the Used Book Bag

Lowe’s Kids Free Workshops 2026

Lowe’s Kids Free Workshops 2026

Lowes offers a free kids' workshop on one Saturday a month. In these workshops, kids participate in a hands-on building project, which is a great

RiverFlix: Free Outdoor Movies at Exploration Place 2026

RiverFlix: Free Outdoor Movies at Exploration Place 2026

Riverflix at Exploration Place is a free outdoor movie series in Wichita. It will be held in the Exploration Place amphitheater right outside its downtown

Riverside Play Days: Free Summer Fun at the Wildlife Exhibit

Riverside Play Days: Free Summer Fun at the Wildlife Exhibit

Looking for a fun and FREE activity for kids this summer? Check out Riverside Play Days, a weekly summer program held at the Kansas Wildlife

Scroll to the top