Southwestern College celebrates 100 years in beloved Stewart Field House
23 January 2024
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Exploration Place is getting some help with one of its new projects. The Wichita Foundation has promised $1 million toward a riverfront amphitheater scheduled to open this fall.
The plans announced last year include a seat wall adjacent to the river path, terraced plantings, a grand staircase, and a sloped artificial turf lawn. It will have the capacity to seat 1,500 people.
The Wichita Foundation Amphitheater will showcase the nightly Ring of Fire show at the Keeper of the Plains. It will also be used for live performances, free family movie nights and other community events.
“This will truly be a space to be enjoyed by all, so the Wichita Foundation is the perfect partner for us on this project,” Adam Smith, Exploration Place’s president and CEO, said in a news release.
“The amphitheater will foster community spirit and convening, and is destined to enhance the quality of life for Wichitans and visitors from across the country,” Shelly Prichard, Wichita Foundation’s president and CEO, said. “We are thrilled to spur the momentum and impact of this bold space, and know the amphitheater will be a jewel within our city.”
The amphitheater is just phase one of Exploration Place’s $22-million, three-phase initiative. Phase two is a playscape and education center, and phase three is an indoor renovation. The goal is to complete those phases in 2025.