Missouri district will convert amusement park to an early childhood education center

The Lee’s Summit (Mo.) school district is buying a local amusement park for $6 million and plans to make it the district’s second early education center.

The district says converting the 15-acre Paradise Park to an early education center will enable the school system to better meet existing needs and expand the number of early learners it can serve.

“Paradise Park will provide the type of modern, state-of-the-art multi-faceted campus needed to keep our promise to taxpayers: to open a second early education center to support our current satellite classrooms and the expansion of our early ed programs,” says Superintendent David Buck.

Programs at Lee’s Summit’s Great Beginnings Early Education Center have been at capacity for many years, and satellite classrooms are located and relocated each year in elementary schools with extra space.

Voters approved a second early education center in 2020 as part of a $224 million bond issue.

Facilities at Paradise Park include an outdoor children’s garden, a “discovery play” area, children’s bathrooms, classroom spaces, and administrative offices.

Many of Paradise Park’s outdoor attractions will remain in place following the transaction. However, several of the indoor entertainment equipment and attractions will not be included in the sale. This will free up existing indoor space where classrooms will be needed.

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