The outdoor play area at the Steinbach Family Resource Centre is officially open for the season.
Executive Director Jo-Anne Dalton says the space is ideal for families with young children who need a safe place to burn off some energy.
“The purpose of our play park is to give families with young children, children under 5 and under 6 a safe, enclosed, contained space where they can just come and take a break and they don't have to worry about their kids getting into something or climbing on something that maybe is a little bit older than their capacity.”
With a road safety theme and a variety of activities to explore, there are plenty of fun things for kids to enjoy.
“There's these small little climb-ons and little storefronts and things like that. We have lots of ride-on toys in the yard, and it just gives families with toddlers an opportunity to have somewhere to go that's designated for them. So, bring a friend, grab a coffee, check-in at our front desk during our regular hours, and then we'll open the park up and you can hang out.”
Dalton says that the space is specifically geared toward very young children.
“There really isn't a lot of entertainment in our park for older kids, middle school, anything like that, it's not your typical neighbourhood park. There is no play structure that they're going to climb up and slide that they're going to roll down.”
The play area is built at ground level, providing a calm, secure environment for toddlers to roam freely.
“It's fenced in, it's not super large, but it's meant to give moms a place where they can just go and have a break and kids can run around and it's fully fenced in, so no one's running towards the road or having to hold their hand all the time, gives them a little independence and freedom, but in a safe place.”
It’s also a great place for parents to meet and connect with others in similar stages of life.
“It's a really great opportunity if you have a new friend that you maybe are trying to connect with and you're not sure where to go or you're not sure about hosting, you can always meet up in a neutral place if you're trying to make new friends,” Dalton says.
In addition to the outdoor space, the centre also offers programs for young mothers and caregivers throughout the week.
“By having a look at our calendar, you can have a peek at what we already have going on and what age group your kids might fit into. And many of those groups are drop-in and they're outside. And it's a really, really great opportunity to come and meet a whole group of moms at once and see if you make some connections.”
The play area is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., during the centre’s regular hours.
“It is gated and locked otherwise. And so if you get there, you can just check in at the front desk, and we'll make sure it's open for you. Let us know when you leave, just so that we can keep track of keeping everything locked and secure.”
With files from Carly Koop