One of the newest additions to the Kansas State Fairgrounds is sure to become a lasting tradition when visiting the Fairgrounds: The Capper Cooperative Park.
Located next to the historic House of Capper, the Capper Cooperative Park was completed in 2023, along with the renovation of the House of Capper. Both are available year round for the public to enjoy — day or night thanks to the inviting and intentional lighting of the area.
The Park features a lovely walking path that winds through the history of cooperatives in the United States, a charge led by former Kansas Governor and US Senator Arthur Capper in the 1920s. Complete with benches and beautiful landscaping, the Capper Cooperative Park provides an interactive space to learn about cooperatives unlike any other in the nation.
Eight front-and-back Storyboards located in the Capper Cooperative Park stand ready to teach anyone wanting to learn. They provide education on cooperatives and history, answering questions like, “What is a cooperative?,” and, “How did Arthur Capper help cooperatives in the United States?”
Much time, thought, and detail were poured into the storyboards in the Capper Cooperative Park, but that’s a story for another time.
Until then, stop by the Park the next time you’re on the Kansas State Fairgrounds and you might just learn something new.
Around the Grounds is a new monthly E-Update series that explores the buildings and attractions of the Kansas State Fairgrounds. Most places have a lot to uncover, so they’ll appear in multiple parts over time. We won’t always cover those parts back-to-back — rather, we’ll move around the Fairgrounds and highlight different buildings along the way. Over time, Around the Grounds will create a growing look at many different spaces — one article at a time.
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About the Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation
The Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation (KFF) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Founded in 2003, KFF’s mission is to further the renovation, construction, preservation and beautification of the Kansas State Fairgrounds with a vision of inspiring excellence and understanding of Kansas agriculture, industry and culture through the Kansas State Fair, activities, educational programs and opportunities. The Foundation exists to enrich the unforgettable memories and traditions people experience only at the Kansas State Fair and at the 500+ events on the Fairgrounds year-round.
