Since our founding in 1978, the mission of Wildlife Prairie Park has never wavered. We strive to offer unique educational and recreational experiences that inspire lifelong learning about conservation. Our founder Bill Rutherford once said “It is a privilege to preserve wilderness areas for the children of distant generations.”

Today, Wildlife Prairie Park is proud to continue its mission of conservation, education, and recreation to all its annual visitors. As one of the Midwest’s leading destinations, visitors from across the globe have enjoyed the beauty and wonder of Wildlife Prairie Park.

Our current campaign, Park for All, is focused on updating and maintaining the Park so that everyone in current and future generations can enjoy all the magnificent things that the Park has to offer.

Play for All

Over the next few years, Wildlife Prairie Park is partnering with NuToys to transform three playgrounds into ADA accessible playgrounds for all to play. WPP wants all children to enjoy playing at the Park, including the over 15,000 children that visited the Park this spring for field trips.

Thanks to a gift from CEFCU and other generous donors, the Park is getting close to raising the $140,000 needed to redo the first playground, the CEFCU Playground. We still need your help to make this transformation a reality!

Wildlife for All

Guests of all abilities can now enjoy Wildlife Prairie Park, our animals, and wildlife with the help of our Accessibility Map, all-terrain scooters, and ADA fishing ramp and dock at Turtle Pond.