Central Riverside Park, Wichita

Central Riverside Park is the heart of the city’s historic park system. Spanning over 50 expansively shaded acres along the Little Arkansas River, this central green space stretches across a half-mile oval walking path-once the site of Davidson’s horse racetrack-now marked with a dozen historic plaques.

A highlight for visitors is the Kansas Wildlife Exhibit: a small zoo of over 25 native species-foxes, beavers, hawks, turtles-free to enter and refreshingly engaging, especially during the daily noon feeding demonstrations. Nearby, children splash under Celebration Plaza’s interactive fountains.

Wander throughout and you'll encounter public art and memorials that trace Wichita’s past. Among them are bronze statues and memorials dedicated to Spanish–American War veterans-including “The Hiker” sculpture and an 800-pound Spanish cannon captured in Cuba-alongside the Solar Calendar installation, a modern seasonal observatory created in 20.