A Visit to the Farm
06-17-2009The Springfield, Missouri Park Board has developed a tract of land on Farm Road 146 as a working farm with barnyard animals, gardens, crops and a fishing pond. The site is primarily designed for children ages pre-school through 5th grade but even my 15 month old granddaughter had a great time there.
Rutledge-Wilson Farm sits on 207 acres just west of the city. From the intersection of West Bypass and Sunshine, head north just a few hundred feet to Farm Road 146, then west to the farm. A small sign on the east side of West Bypass marks the turn.
Admission to the park is free and there are modest fees for a couple of activities. For example, fishing in the pond is available by the hour and only with equipment provided at the gift shop, but the fee is just a few dollars. There are also a couple of family fishing nights set for this summer that include photos of fish caught, a campfire to roast bring-your-own hot dogs and s’mores, and prizes for catching tagged fish. Drinks are part of the package and the cost is just $4 per person.
At the big red barn on the property and in pens just outside the barn, children can check out turkey poults, goats, miniature horses, a dairy cow, chickens, a rooster, sheep and a couple of very friendly farm cats. My granddaughter had a great time petting them the goats and horses but do be careful to keep a close eye on the kids because these are animals and they can get a little testy at times (although all of them were quite patient on our trip).
Fields are planted in corn and other crops and there is a garden on site as well so children can get a sense of what it takes to grow food. Rutledge-Wilson provides structured learning experiences that 
are closely aligned to Missouri State Standards for groups of ten or more children . There is a cost of $1.50 per student for these 60-minute programs but teachers and chaperones are admitted free of charge. One of these activities was taking place while we were at the farm and it involved both classroom and outdoor sessions, three instructors and a bunch of kids having a great time.
Also noteworthy is that access to the facilities and to the park grounds was designed to accommodate those individuals needing wheelchairs as well as those on foot. Anyplace where stairs were present, ramps were gently built into the landscape.
Just to round out the visit, a farm-themed playground is situated near the pond so kids can burn off a little excess energy before, after or during their visit.
Rutledge-Wilson was a part of Springfield’s Vision 20/20 plan and became a reality after voters passed a 1/4 cent sales tax in 2001 that was earmarked for city parks. The park was opened in 2008 and will continue to undergo changes and improvements in upcoming years.
Rutledge-Wilson Park is open from 9am to 5pm Tuesdays through Sundays. Besides being closed on Mondays, the park is also closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Days.
For more information and to make reservations for learning experiences, park attendants can be reached at (417) 837-5949. There is also more information available on the park board’s website at: http://www.parkboard.org/info/city_parks/rutledge_wilson/index.html .