Did you know the Capper Cooperative Park includes an audio tour? That’s right! There is a QR code at the entrance that takes you to the audio tour, located on the Foundation’s website. This audio tour can also be enjoyed from wherever you are — right now! It includes images of the storyboards so you can visualize as you listen.
Of course, nothing beats seeing the park in person. It’s the perfect blend of tranquil and educational with lovely landscaping, benches for pondering, and a winding path leading you through learning.
There are seven front and back storyboards in the Capper Cooperative Park. An eighth storyboard stands on the south side of the House of Capper and includes a history of the House of Capper.
The design of the storyboards was inspired by Arthur Capper’s deep ties with the newspaper industry. Big bold headlines and layouts inspired by both old and new print media come together to tell the story of cooperatives.
The audio tour expands upon the design of the storyboards and brings them to life with storytelling. In fact, the audio tour brings the entire project full circle, right back to the original drafts of information for the storyboards. While that original draft was well written and informative, it wasn’t the most engaging piece of work visually. The artist who worked on the storyboards took that information and translated it into striking visuals that pair perfectly with the audio tour of the same origin.
Whether you peruse the park digitally or in-person, we hope it can spark ideas and teach you something new. The next time you’re wondering where to wander on a beautiful day, we hope you’ll choose to stop by the Capper Cooperative Park.
Around the Grounds is a 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.
