Historically, Tulsa, Oklahoma, has struggled with inequality. Local philanthropist George B. Kaiser wanted to help fix that. His approach: to help fund the creation of a $465 million park on the city’s waterfront. Gathering Place opened in 2018. It’s free and open to the public, and it was designed to bring the people of Tulsa together. The park features a BMX track, a skate park, a pond, and public art exhibits. There’s also a five-acre adventure playground, complete with climbing towers, a water feature so impressive it’s called Charlie’s Water Mountain, and a sensory garden that encourages visitors to experience the park using all five senses. “Play is universal,” says executive director Tony Moore. “It doesn’t matter the color of your skin.” —Shay Maunz
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ArcelorMittal OrbitArtists at PlayCanada’s WonderlandCity MuseumCopenHillEscapeEvermore ParkLego HouseMusic Box VillageOasis of the SeasOtherworldPacific Wheel at Pacific ParkStar Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney WorldThe Dr. Seuss ExperienceGathering PlaceLearn
Apollo Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space CenterDeichman Biblo TøyenChildren’s Museum of IndianapolisFarm Wisconsin Discovery CenterImagiNations Activity Center at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American IndianLa Brea Tar PitsLouisville Slugger Museum & FactoryMoat BraeNational Butterfly CenterNotre-Dame CathedralStatue of Liberty MuseumU.S. Space & Rocket CenterWashington MonumentWoodland Park ZooExplore
Best Friends Animal SanctuaryBoulders BeachCherry Springs State ParkChildren’s Eternal RainforestCliff Palace at Mesa Verde National ParkDenali StarGreat Sand Dunes National Park and PreserveIcehotelNeuschwanstein CastleNiagara Falls State ParkThe Grand CanyonThe Lion King AdventureThe Vessel at Hudson YardsWaitomo Glowworm CavesWhispering Woods Braille TrailWyoming Dinosaur Center & Dig SitesPlay
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ArcelorMittal OrbitArtists at PlayCanada’s WonderlandCity MuseumCopenHillEscapeEvermore ParkLego HouseMusic Box VillageOasis of the SeasOtherworldPacific Wheel at Pacific ParkStar Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney WorldThe Dr. Seuss ExperienceGathering PlaceLearn
Apollo Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space CenterDeichman Biblo TøyenChildren’s Museum of IndianapolisFarm Wisconsin Discovery CenterImagiNations Activity Center at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American IndianLa Brea Tar PitsLouisville Slugger Museum & FactoryMoat BraeNational Butterfly CenterNotre-Dame CathedralStatue of Liberty MuseumU.S. Space & Rocket CenterWashington MonumentWoodland Park ZooExplore
Best Friends Animal SanctuaryBoulders BeachCherry Springs State ParkChildren’s Eternal RainforestCliff Palace at Mesa Verde National ParkDenali StarGreat Sand Dunes National Park and PreserveIcehotelNeuschwanstein CastleNiagara Falls State ParkThe Grand CanyonThe Lion King AdventureThe Vessel at Hudson YardsWaitomo Glowworm CavesWhispering Woods Braille TrailWyoming Dinosaur Center & Dig SitesCoolest Places
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ArcelorMittal OrbitArtists at PlayCanada’s WonderlandCity MuseumCopenHillEscapeEvermore ParkLego HouseMusic Box VillageOasis of the SeasOtherworldPacific Wheel at Pacific ParkStar Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney WorldThe Dr. Seuss ExperienceGathering PlaceLearn
Apollo Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space CenterDeichman Biblo TøyenChildren’s Museum of IndianapolisFarm Wisconsin Discovery CenterImagiNations Activity Center at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American IndianLa Brea Tar PitsLouisville Slugger Museum & FactoryMoat BraeNational Butterfly CenterNotre-Dame CathedralStatue of Liberty MuseumU.S. Space & Rocket CenterWashington MonumentWoodland Park ZooExplore
Best Friends Animal SanctuaryBoulders BeachCherry Springs State ParkChildren’s Eternal RainforestCliff Palace at Mesa Verde National ParkDenali StarGreat Sand Dunes National Park and PreserveIcehotelNeuschwanstein CastleNiagara Falls State ParkThe Grand CanyonThe Lion King AdventureThe Vessel at Hudson YardsWaitomo Glowworm CavesWhispering Woods Braille TrailWyoming Dinosaur Center & Dig SitesPlay
Learn
Explore
Eat
Full List
Play
ArcelorMittal OrbitArtists at PlayCanada’s WonderlandCity MuseumCopenHillEscapeEvermore ParkLego HouseMusic Box VillageOasis of the SeasOtherworldPacific Wheel at Pacific ParkStar Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney WorldThe Dr. Seuss ExperienceGathering PlaceLearn
Apollo Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space CenterDeichman Biblo TøyenChildren’s Museum of IndianapolisFarm Wisconsin Discovery CenterImagiNations Activity Center at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American IndianLa Brea Tar PitsLouisville Slugger Museum & FactoryMoat BraeNational Butterfly CenterNotre-Dame CathedralStatue of Liberty MuseumU.S. Space & Rocket CenterWashington MonumentWoodland Park ZooExplore
Best Friends Animal SanctuaryBoulders BeachCherry Springs State ParkChildren’s Eternal RainforestCliff Palace at Mesa Verde National ParkDenali StarGreat Sand Dunes National Park and PreserveIcehotelNeuschwanstein CastleNiagara Falls State ParkThe Grand CanyonThe Lion King AdventureThe Vessel at Hudson YardsWaitomo Glowworm CavesWhispering Woods Braille TrailWyoming Dinosaur Center & Dig SitesTIME may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.