McAdams Park was a favorite of mine while growing up. It backed up to my elementary school, L’Ouverture, and I remember one of my teachers would take us out there a lot to run and play. It has changed quite a bit since my childhood. There’s a new playground, and the whole park seems bigger and prettier.
Before our adventure, I had no idea that this park was formerly named McKinley Park, but was renamed in 1966. This park is also a great tribute to some of the best athletes to come from our town. The basketball courts are named after basketball great Antione Carr, the football field is named after Barry Sanders, and the tennis courts are named after Charles “Goose” Doughty Jr. Asselwho was a local legendary tennis coach.
Features:
- Playground Base: Rubber
- Swings
- Slides
- Picnic Tales
- Park Benches
- Tennis Courts
- Shelter
- Basketball Courts
- Baseball Diamonds
- Volleyball Courts
- Football Field
- Access to Canal Hike & Bike Trail
- Assembly Area (With Seating for 300!!)
- Rec Center
- Water Fountains
On the way out of the park, we noticed a World War II memorial. My interest was peaked, and I was able to find an awesome article on Kansas.com about the monument:
“At the end of World War II, seven African-American women from Wichita started a campaign that swept the nation. It was called the “Double V” campaign: The first “V” stood for victory over Allied enemies, and the second “V” stood for victory over segregation. The women led efforts to build the first World War II monument in the nation to honor the men and women who served in the armed forces. The monument, dedicated in 1946, sits on the southern edge of McAdams Park off 13th Street in front of the park’s baseball stadium. It reads: “In honor of the men and women who served in the Armed Forces of the U.S.A. during the second World War.”
See the article here, which includes information about other local monuments: http://www.kansas.com/news/local/article146226839.html
Mom Tips: I know I’ve said this at numerous other parks, but this park would be perfect for a picnic. The picnic area right by the playground is under mature trees, so it makes a nice, shady area. Since the park backs up to the Canal Bike Trail, I would bring a bike or rollerblades. For more information on the Trail, check out traillink.com: https://www.traillink.com/trail/canal-hike-and-bike-trail/
Kid Tips: The kids mentioned more than a few times that they wanted to go into the pool, even though it was closed. They loved the park and found some hawks in the trees near the playground.
Best Quest with Weston & Sully 