Entry No. 35 — the Kansas City file — filed under: outdoor

Penguin Park

This whimsical public park is famous for its collection of giant, hand-built fiberglass animal sculptures, including a 23-foot-tall penguin and a 26-foot-tall kangaroo slide. Handcrafted in the 1960s by self-taught city parks engineer Vernon Jones, these retro, larger-than-life creatures have been preserved by passionate locals for decades.

The move: Grab milkshakes from the nearby Sonic and take a nostalgic stroll through the park, snapping photos inside the giant penguin's belly or posing with the towering giraffe.

📍 Northland
💸 Free
⚡ Up for anything
🌗 Outdoors

Where: 4124 NE Vivion Rd, Kansas City, MO 64119

Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.

#roadside-oddity #sculpture #park #free

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: kcparks.org · kcur.org

last checked: 2026-07-21