The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History has long been a hub for learning and imagination. When museum leaders set out to replace an aging water play area, they envisioned a playground that would extend their mission outdoors - immersing children in science and discovery through active play. The museum engaged Texas firm Valley Quest Design to lead the site planning and landscape architecture, while Whirlix Design was tasked with bringing an inclusive play expertise that would function as a cosmic-themed outdoor classroom for children of various ages and abilities.

The Design Lens
The Landscape Architects approached Galaxy Park as more than a playground layout; it was an opportunity to orchestrate a story. "We realized that there was a tremendous opportunity to do something unique and tell a story that was educational but at the same time was a genuinely fun place to play and socialize," explained Valley Quest Design co-founder and Design Director Jeremy Blad, PLA. "We wanted children and parents to feel like they were stepping into a cosmic journey straight from the halls of the museum." This mindset informed everything, from the paving patterns to the plant palette, ensuring that the playground read as one immersive composition.

 
Navigating Site Constraints
The playground's location deep within the museum campus made staging and deliveries a logistical puzzle. Afternoon sun also pours across the west-facing courtyard, threatening playability during peak hours. The footprint was compact, challenging the team to fit equipment, shade, and seating without compromising safety or accessibility. On top of that, the museum needed a facility that could endure constant use by families, field trips, and special events.

"The site constraints become agents of creativity; they push the design in uncertain ways and good things can - and did - come out of that apparent chaos," said Blad. "They forced us to be more intentional about circulation, outdoor comfort, safety, and socializing."

Working together, the design/build team turned each constraint into an opportunity, like planning temporary access routes before construction began. Rather than scattering multiple shade structures, custom-designed anchor points were engineered on the existing museum façade to suspend a SkyWays® by Landscape Structures canopy - freeing up precious ground plane for play. Surfacing and plantings were selected for aesthetics and resilience, with rubber surfacing poured in concentric, planetary rings and hardy, low-maintenance plantings that hold up to heavy foot traffic and Texas weather, all while reinforcing the cosmic theme.

Designing an Interstellar Journey
Galaxy Park's layout reflects the design team's instinct to choreograph movement and discovery. The playground is visible through a giant glass window along the museum hallways, immediately sparking visual interest and the imagination. Upon exiting the building, children are launched into space between planetary orbits traced out on the ground plane. This radial pattern is scaled to the solar system's actual distances. Thematic play elements are positioned as destinations within the orbits, each offering a different kind of physical and sensory experience.

The Landscape Structures playground equipment selection ensured accessibility for children of varying abilities. Whirlix Design's input on inclusive play was informed by its experience leading the educational tour for the museum's annual summer STEM Squad. "The students got to see not only how a playground is built but also the 'why' behind inclusive design," noted David Rushing, Director of Business Development at Whirlix Design. "That perspective carried directly into Galaxy Park."

Galactic Impact
Since its opening in November 2022, Galaxy Park has become a signature experience at the museum, boosting attendance and providing a new venue for programs and events. Visitors aren't just using play equipment - they're immersed in a story about the universe and their place within it. "The greatest reward is seeing families linger, explore, learn together, and - my favorite - seeing the playground crawling with children, laughing, imagining, and challenging themselves physically," Blad reflected. "That's how we know the design is doing its job." Galaxy Park is not just a playground; it's a model of how creative problem-solving and collaboration can produce spaces where science, play, and community orbit together.

As seen in LASN magazine, December 2025.