Kansas City, Mo. – Early April at Union Station felt more like a playground than the cultural hub that it usually is. Thirteen colorful, kid-ready playhouses lined the Haverty Family Yards, drawing in families, passersby, and bidders to view. Among them stood a crowd favorite: a bulldozer-inspired creation from the Excelsior Springs Area Career Center (ESACC).
The “Skid Steer Playhouse” was complete with oversized tracks, a large scoop, a hidden compartment, and even a tire swing. This well-built entry earned ESACC the Best in Innovation Award before being auctioned off for $3,100 to Carolyn’s Pumpkin Patch, all in support of Science City’s STEM programs.
The Parade of Playhouses, hosted by the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City from April 1 to 6, invited area high school and technical students to think beyond the textbook and build something entirely their own. From concept to construction, every detail was developed by student teams, which required creativity, collaboration, and real-world problem-solving.
“We let the students come up with the ideas themselves,” said Bronson Smith, carpentry and construction instructor at ESACC. “They research, draw posters and blueprints, then pitch their concepts. We hold a vote, and whichever one wins, that’s what we build.”
This year, students chose a classic childhood favorite and spent months turning the idea of a bright yellow skid steer into a fully functional playhouse. The team showed heart and hustle by spending months preparing for the event, from September to showtime in April. Smith shared that students even wanted to devote time outside of school hours to help complete the project in time. And as for the design, Smith encouraged his students to think of themselves, siblings, or other children in their lives for inspiration on how to make it functional for play.
“We could have built something sleek for adults,” said Smith. “But this is for kids. We asked ourselves, ‘What would we have loved as children?”
At the event, a panel of judges visited Union Station on April 5, and awards were presented for categories including Pick of the Parade, Best in Craftsmanship, and Best in Innovation. Judges awarded ESACC the Best in Innovation award for their creative and kid-friendly design. This was especially impressive, given that this year’s contest saw the largest number of participating schools in the event’s history.
After the awards were announced, the playhouses remained on display through Sunday before being shifted to an online auction. Bidding ended on Sunday, April 6th, and Carolyn’s Pumpkin Patch offered the highest bid on the Skid Steer Playhouse for $3,100.
For the ESACC students, this wasn’t just a class project—it was an introduction to professional experience that helped them give back to the community. “They walked away not just with an award, but with a sense of ownership over something they built with their own hands,” Smith said. “They’ve learned how to work on a team, meet deadlines, and deal with unexpected problems. That’s going to carry with them no matter what they do next.”
With the win behind them and fresh ideas already under construction, ESACC is looking ahead to next year’s competition. Smith says the team is more motivated than ever: “Next year, they’re already talking about what they want to build. We’ll take everything we learned this year and go even bigger.”
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