Kherson Park

Kherson Park is a unique space-themed playground located in downtown Kent, Washington. Opened in May 2023, this park pays tribute to Kent's significant role in space exploration history, particularly Boeing's involvement in designing and building Lunar Roving Vehicles for NASA's Apollo missions in the late 1960s.

The park features several interactive play elements inspired by lunar exploration. A centerpiece of the park is a life-size replica of a Lunar Rover, built by Cre8Play, allowing children to imagine themselves as astronauts on a moon mission. Adjacent to the rover is a lunar lander play structure, designed at half the scale of the real spacecraft, which offers multiple access points including a springy egress platform, ladder-like landing legs, and a ground-level tunnel.

Adding to the immersive space experience, Kherson Park includes a life-size astronaut suit for photo opportunities and an interactive mission control panel equipped with working switches and an intercom system. These features allow children to communicate as if they were on an actual space mission. The park's design is further enhanced by a 40-foot-wide backdrop featuring a digitally altered vintage NASA photo of the moon's surface, creating a realistic lunar environment.

The park's ground surface is covered with springy rubber material, designed to resemble the moon's surface while providing safety for playing children. In addition to the play structures, the park includes space-themed furniture such as Orbit picnic tables, offering seating areas for caregivers and visitors.

Kherson Park also incorporates modern technology through a Boeing-sponsored augmented reality app called Space for Kidz. This free app allows visitors to use smartphones to engage in virtual activities such as launching a rocket, driving a Lunar Rover, and planting a flag on the lunar surface, adding an extra layer of interactivity to the park experience.

While compact in size, Kherson Park offers a rich educational experience, celebrating local history and potentially inspiring young visitors to pursue interests in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The park's innovative design and interactive elements make it a unique destination for families and space enthusiasts in the Kent area.