Taking a trip to Kiddie Park is like stepping into a time machine to a simpler version of childhood: remembering the smiles and laughter of afternoons spent outdoors. Before children had tablets and games to engage their attention, they had bright lights, music and smells of popcorn and cotton candy drifting through the air at Kiddie Park.
“It’s not like a carnival and it’s not like a circus, but it has the mystique of both,” says Ron Adams, president of the Bartlesville Playground Association.
Aimed at children twelve and under, Kiddie Park was founded in 1947 by Bill and Marjorie Beasley, who wanted an affordable place for local families to have fun. Kiddie Park has stayed true to that mission by operating as a nonprofit and raising funds, allowing its ride tickets to be 50 cents each.
"It’s not like a carnival, and it’s not like a circus, but it has the mystique of both."
The first thing a visitor sees walking in the gates is the newly-refurbished carousel. It came to a screeching halt during the 2014 season, but fans of Kiddie Park from all over the country sent money to save it. Now the lilting music welcomes everyone to the park once again.
The Little Fireball rollercoaster has just the right amount of hills and speed to elicit shrieks of delight from little ones without scaring them.
The historic bumper boats, Kiddie Park’s oldest ride, is a piece of American history. It was first off the line at the factory and was given serial number one. It’s still operational today.
While some of the rides are sized for little ones, some welcome the whole family along.
“I love the train, because everybody can ride together,” says Lili Gao, who took her four-year-old daughter and two-year-old son to Kiddie Park last season.
And the last train ride of the evening is always free.
This article was originally published in Oklahoma Today in the May/June 2018 issue.