O J Watson Park — Attraction in Wichita

We were in Wichita from out of town and had this park recommended to us (myself and my 4 year old). It was a slightly cool morning for being June in Kansas, so we decided to check it out. We played on the playground for a bit because we got there before the attractions opened. We went to buy a coupon pack of tickets and we were told the pony rides wouldn't be an option that day up front, which was very appreciated. Then we got tickets for the train and went for a ride around the park. The train ride was nice and my son enjoyed it, but he kept asking why there were speakers throughout the 'cars' if the 'engineer' wasn't going to talk to us about what we were seeing. Then we rented a pedal boat and went out for a little bit on the water. He's too short to reach the pedals, so I did all the work :) but it was a really nice little trip out onto the water - his first time on a boat of any kind. It felt like he was very safe with his life vest, and he loved steering the boat while I pedaled, so he loved it. We took it back to the dock after awhile to get a snack. The rental/ride/dock process was all very smooth and easy, but both at the boat and train, it felt like the staff was annoyed by the fact that we were there and wanted to participate in the activities offered. We headed up to the concessions and got a soda (for me), skittles, and a sno-cone for my son, and it was VERY reasonably priced. We had our snacks under a shelter to stay cool and enjoyed it very much. We really enjoyed our morning overall. It's a beautiful park with a lot to offer. It just felt like we were enjoying it a lot more than the park staff was (but that could also be that we were dealing with teenagers working a summer job, so that's...

The park needs more updated and properly kept landscaping. This is not a wild park, it is a all use area park. Mown grass and mature trees, playground, common use bldg in need of updates and improvements, bathrooms that need weekly through cleaning and insect cleanup, picnic tables that require removal, replacement or repair, covered pavilions that need weekly hosing ( geese, food, trash) and removal of undergrowth along the banks of the lake. Trash in, and along waters edge is shameful. Concrete dumped along banks for erosion control are unsafe and unsightly. With some much needed attention and funds O.J.Watson could be a premiere park for our city. The recently built wedding venue on the west side of the park, along McLean Blvd. Is not very pretty to look at, little effort by the developer to landscape attactively around the bldg and down the concrete path to the outside gazebo, makes the place seem shabby, and not well cared for in comparison to other venues in Sedgwick and surrounding counties. The gate on the roadway leading to that area of the park is a new thing to us, and I can see that limiting use of parts of the park at some point. We walk Watson Park on a regular basis and would love to see more effort by the city to maintain and care for this...

V peaceful and beautiful. ONLY 'issue' was my niece schedule a cover patio thing for 230-5 apparently. Well, not to be stereotypical or anything BUT we DO reserve the right for CP time 🤷 we honestly show up 4/430 (couple separate car; i was in the latter and my children arrive in the former. My niece ACTUALLY arrive on time, fwiw) and i was FINE to vacate the pagoda (patio? lanai?? IDEK!!) and continue our celebration tailgate or what EV but were told that was not possible. We would have been HAPPY to pay extra for the actual pagoda or tailgate responsibly and leave later, ANYTHING to continue celebrate my niece baby shower w/out having to pack EVTHING up and GO. But there was ZERO option. I UNDERSTAND this was our 'fault' but it would just be NICE to have an option besides GO HOME, GO STRAIGHT HOME, DO NOT COLLECT 200 😂😭 it really IS gorge out there yall!!! Theres lil boats you can rent for like $3 and a pretty island on the far 'coast', on an adjacent area there was a lil train, its AMAZING!! AGAIN, it WAS our bad but theres ZERO wiggle room, which is unfortunate considering we WOULD HAVE looooved to have stay until at LEAST sundown, willing to pay OR compromise on the specific logistics. Still BEAUTIFUL...