Sunrise Boundless Playscape

The Sunrise Boundless Playscape Enhancement Master Plan is the culmination of 24 months of planning by the Sunrise Rotary Club and engineering and planning firm, Ruggles & Bohm. The wildly popular playground at Sedgwick County Park is approaching its 10th year in operation and is in need of additional amenities to manage high usage, add new types of modern play amenities, and address some ongoing maintenance items. Planned for implementation over three years, the master plan will provide for additional play space for toddlers (ages 3-5) and older children (ages 5-12), a natural play space, much needed shade and picnic space, an exciting sound play installation and a fully accessible maze. Fundraising goal for this campaign is $1.0 million.

PLAYSCAPE HISTORY. The Sunrise Boundless Playscape, a community service project of the Sunrise Rotary Club of West Sedgwick County, is a $1.75 million interactive playground designed for children and adults with mobility challenges. The idea for this playground originated from a request from Rotary International in 2002 for clubs to develop community service projects to celebrate Rotary’s 2005 Centennial. Clubs were asked to consider their community’s most pressing needs and determine highly visible ways to meet those needs.

With Sedgwick County’s support and donation of 1.5 acres, our 40 member powerhouse of a club jumped in and began planning, dreaming and selling our dreams to others. At 70 percent accessibility, the Playscape substantially exceeds ADA requirements. It is uniquely designed for inclusive play for children and parents with mobility challenges so they can play side-by-side with their siblings and friends.

The Sunrise Boundless Playscape is…

•Accessible for both disabled kids and parents

This playground is the only facility of its kind in the area where kids and parents of all abilities can play together.

•Another jewel in the crown of Sedgwick County Park While the park is home to Sedgwick County Zoo, the most popular family attraction in Kansas, the Sunrise Boundless Playscape is a major attraction of its own. Since its opening, the Playscape has doubled park attendance from approximately 500,000 to over 1 million.

•A playground that addresses community needs Scores of children from area advocacy and service organizations, schools, and other groups visit the playground each year, including 72 buses of children from USD 259 in the 2015-16 school year.

•Community driven

This is the second major playground campaign led by the community. These enhancements have the support of the community and are a response to overwhelming popularity and a need to for additional play capacity.

•A project which leverages private funds with public support

Community-driven fundraising campaign will provide much of the project’s capital funds, much as the previous campaign did. However, county support is vital to ensure private dollars go farther for maintenance and enhancements in order to ensure that the park continues to serve all users.

The Sunrise Boundless Playscape, a community service project of the Sunrise Rotary Club of West Sedgwick County, is a $1.5 million interactive playground in Sedgwick County Park designed for children of all abilities and disabilities. The idea for this playground originated from a request from Rotary International in 2002 for each club to develop a community service project to celebrate Rotary’s Centennial in 2005. Clubs were asked to consider the most pressing needs of the community and determine highly visible ways to meet those needs. The Sunrise Club did just that.

With Sedgwick County's support and donation of 1.5 acres, our 40 member powerhouse of a club jumped in and began planning, dreaming and selling our dreams to others. At 70 percent accessibility, the Playscape substantially exceeds ADA requirements. It is uniquely designed for inclusive play for children with disabilities so they can play side-by-side with their siblings and friends.

Rubberized surfacing, ramps and other accessible play equipment make this public innovative playground a destination for many families in the south central Kansas region. After nearly six years and hundreds of hours of club man-hours to finish, the grand opening for the Sunrise Boundless Playscape was held on Wednesday, July 8, 2008.

This project stands as a testament to what determination, perseverance, hard work and a shared vision can accomplish. As a Sunrise Rotary member, this project, as well as our other community and global initiatives, provides you the opportunity to develop strong relationships and truly make a difference locally and in our global community.

Hill Slide

Where a retaining wall exists today will soon be the location of 3 new slides and a net climber. When originally built, the wall was to contain plant materials which would grow to cover the wall surface. Today, only dirt pockets remain.

This plan proposes to remove the wall and regrade the 36” dierence in elevation, creating a gentle slope. On that new slope will be 2 new, colorful poly slides, 1 new roller table slide and a new net climber. A new shade sail will provide relief from hot summer sun. Nearby, an existing ramp will provide access between the top and bottom of the slope. Under the new equipment will be a mixture of artificial turf and poured-in-place rubber surface to provide many soft landings for the hours of fun kids will have on this new equipment.

PROJECTED COSTS: $54,200

Scope of improvements includIensc: idental removal of existing pavement; removal of existing block retaining wall; site preparation and grading; installation of new rubber and turf surfaces-; installa tion of new Landscape Structures slides and net climber; installation of landscaping; and maintenance funds.

SoundPlay Garden

Sound play encourages creativity and spontaneity. It positively impacts a child’s cognitive, emotional, physical and communal well-being. But best of all, it’s fun!

Located on the south side of the playscape, existing sound equipment is in need of replacement after 9 years of heavy use and damage. The Sunrise Boundless Playscape Committee has identified equipment from Freenotes Harmony Park for the new Sound Play Garden. The equipment is durable, long-lasting and has been installed locally at Botanica, Hutchinson’s Dillon Nature Center and Salina’s Riverside Park.

The Sound Play Garden will be located near the current equipment, with the proposed layout creating an intimate, crescent-shaped plaza. Freenotes Harmony Park’s 5-piece “Premium Ensemble” will be arranged along the perimeter to allow for virtuoso performances by all!

PROJECTED COSTS: $25,000

Scope of improvements includIensc: idental removal of existing pavement; site preparation and grading; installation of new plaza pavement; installation of new Freenotes Harmony Park “Premium Ensemble” sound play equipment; maintenance endowment.

Amazin' Maze

One of the unique features of the playscape expansion is a new, accessible maze- the Amazin’ Maze. Fully accessible pathways will allow for users of all ages and abilities to experience this one-of-akind adventure.

The first thing visitors will notice when approaching the maze are the bright wall panels. Each panel will be covered in colorful, metal pickets- a bright interpretation of the old fashioned white picket fence. The fun really starts once inside the maze, though. Turning corner after corner, users will be directed through the internal pathways among random planters filled with plants of varying textures- including ornamental grasses. But watch out- don’t turn down a dead end!

The location of the maze is sure to be a popular stop between the new West Play and Natural Play Areas.

PROJECTED COSTS: $51,000

Scope of improvements includIensc: idental removal of existing pavement and play equipment; site preparation and grading; installation of new pavement;

Play It Forward logo How will you Play it Forward?
Eight years into heavy play, the Sunrise Boundless Playscape is showing wear and tear and will require special funding to sustain its premiere status. As good stewards, West Sedgwick County Sunrise Rotary Club with the support of an adjunct committee, the Friends of the Sunrise Boundless Playscape, have launched the Play It Forward campaign, a three-year $1-million fundraising campaign which create exciting new areas of play.

Click here to donate.

Or for more information contact:

info@sunriseplayscapewichita.com