Earlier this month, the Keweenaw Family Resource Center opened its new ‘venture’ in the Tree House.
The below article is used from the Mining Gazette linked at: http://www.mininggazette.com/page/content.detail/id/509353.html
HOUGHTON – The Tree House Indoor Playspace in Houghton is ready to open the doors to the pitter patter of little feet and laughter.
The Tree House Indoor Playspace, a product of the Keweenaw Family Resources Center in Houghton, has been an idea in the making for nine months and has finally become a reality for Jessica Della Valla, a parent who brought the idea of an indoor playspace to staff at the KFRC in May.
A ribbon cutting was conducted Friday and the doors will officially open Monday.
Bright colors and tons of space make up the “hub of wellness” inside the doors of the playspace, located in the Red Ridge Plaza. Paintings depicting frogs, trees, birds, bugs, rocks, clouds and a white fence adorn the blue and green walls inside the large play area and a bright yellow sun is painted on one side near a miniature rock climbing wall. The playspace features a large wooden play area with a tire swing and an orange treehouse with “Welcome!” sprawled across front. To one side of the room, there is a ball wall and to the other, a blue “lily pond” for crawlers and toddlers to play on. A bike corral is located near the center of the room and toys can be found in various baskets around the playspace.
“I know my kids love it,” Della Valla said. “Kids can come and try out everything.”
The idea was born with Della Valla when she envisioned a space for children to play in the cold winter months. After fundraising and building the entire space, the playspace began to take form. Now, it features a welcome center to remove shoes, as they are not permitted on the protective green flooring, and hang coats as well as a place to schedule time at the Tree House Indoor Playspace. There is another section of the building that allows parents to “take a timeout” with kids and enjoy a snack or a place to unwind.
To get information about memberships or sponsorships for the Tree House Indoor Playspace, call the KFRC at 482-9363.
