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c)1~21r94 L.39 $6?2 296 3698 STATE PL,4C~C~l C(c; INL`OOR PLAYGROUND {~(j2 C~ Unlike children of school age, recreational and social e7pportumities for pre-schoolers, and just as importantly, their parents, axe scarce in Falcon Heights. An indoor playground {a large room with toys,, games, and simple play equipment) provides a plane fox parents to bx,irig ~.n:~ants, toddlers, and pre-schoolers to play together and get to know one another. 7Cn addition to meeting t3ae needs of the children, it reduces parental isolatio~z and connects them to their neighbors and they become resources to cae another. The City alsrs benefits from an increased sense of community gained from the participants of the playground and those who support it_ The idea for an indoor playground in Falcon Heights was inspired by pro~QCts in Amherst, xew York and Binghamton, Piew York, both northern cities that experience winter weather conditions similar to Minnesota. In each case, however, the indoor play grounds remain open year around because of their popu3arity. ~=xroza. 1v~W YoR~_ The indoor playground in Binghal-uton drew out of a 7nothez's frustration with "cab~.t~ fever. ^ After contacting the mayor's office and being referred to the parks and recreation director, Liz Rosenberg succeeded in starting the "Play House." It is a big carpeted room, divided into active and quiet areas with some toys, books, furniture usable by both cb.a.Zdzen and adults. It operates four hours a day, five mornings a weak and is open to children five years and younger. It is located in a spare room in a school building. The city provided $3, 500 in discretionary funds for equipment and $6,5fld in salaries to keep the project running smoothly. Eecause of the need for approval by the school board and other issues, implementation of the playground took a little over a year. "We decided to organize the room into separate play areas. We placed the baby area - soft toys, a huggable activity rug - in front of park benches, where parents could relax between playing and swooping. Adjacent to the baby area is the quiet area, with tables and chairs, where grc7wn-ups and children share art supplies, books, toys and puzzles, A play kitchen. stands nearby. Tie set up the active area in the back ccsrner of the ropzp, roped off with safety nets. it's equigped with huge rubber balls, play mats, and foam rubber animals. Close by is a slightly less frenetic climbing-and--sliding area - a few climbing pyramids and blocks, some padded mats, a four-seater rQC3cing towboat that doubles as a footbridge when turned over, and a sturdy wood slide - safe for toddlers but acceptable for alder children too.