Indoor Play full steam ahead

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

Two stay-at-home mothers are logging hours of overtime to bring their idea of Strathmore and Wheatland County’s first indoor playground to fruition, yet unforeseen renovation costs are forcing the duo to turn to local businesses and the community for financial help.
Christy Marlatt and Marci Hira dreamed up the initiative of an indoor play area in 2015 after meeting for coffee and realizing their common interests and visions for the community. As mothers of toddlers, their idea, which caters to children up to age 12, quickly took shape. Yet, with a 9,900 sq. ft. building and location in sight, the project, Hip Hooray Indoor Play, quickly came to a standstill when financial help from the bank was denied and renovation costs mounted too high.
Instead of bidding their enterprise adieu – which aims to donate money back to local charities and remain economically conscious in their products – the two former business women are knocking on the doors of local establishments and recently launched their crowd-funding campaign to gather the necessary $85,000.
“There’s not enough here to keep kids active unfortunately,” said Marlatt, co-owner of Hip Hooray Indoor Play and mother of two.
“We want to support our community, support community kids. We want to put out programs for them that isn’t just free play. We want to do things like kids yoga… and also team up and partner with local businesses.”
With $3,600 already secured, along with $2,500 from a sponsor who wants to remain anonymous, Hip Hooray Indoor Play still requires large donations before the facility opens its doors on the anticipated opening date of June. 1.
The financial contributions would bring the fire rating of the building up to code for an assembly business – which is, according to the business owners, what their business is classified as. With renovations up to par, the women can then continue to equip the nearly 10,000 sq. ft. bi-level facility with a large custom playground, bouncy castles, baby and toddler area, a nursing room, a healthy snack and specialty coffee bar, as well as two party rooms to cater to 60 people combined.
Marlatt and Hira have already been in contact with Atomic Playground, an indoor playground manufacturing company that’s been designing, manufacturing, and installing kid-tested soft indoor play equipment since 1991. As part of the vision, the company is constructing a play structure that’s handicap friendly and large enough for parents to partake in the activities with their children.
“The parents can climb through the tunnels with the kids, so they can stay involved in the play time with their kids as opposed to just sitting back and drinking coffee if they so choose,” Marlatt said.
“I went to school in Strathmore… and returned for things like the school system, the smaller town feel, it’s just a really wonderful community to raise your kids. I have a lot of friends here and I think they need to be offered something like this. It’s a lot of hard work to pack up the kids, take them to the city, and keep them active.”
Having relied on charity organizations such as the food bank in the past and recognizing the economic downturn, both women are adamant about contributing a fraction of their success back into local charities in the future. Furthermore, Hip Hooray Indoor Play is focused on maintaining a small environmental footprint through utilizing fully compostable food service packaging, cups, plates, cutlery, and biodegradable cleaning products.
In addition, the business plans to distribute 50 single memberships – a family with one child – and 50 family memberships for unlimited access throughout the year. Memberships will also provide discounts on special programs, such as laser tag, and birthday packages. Day passes will also be made available. Depending on the success of Phase 1, Marlatt and Hira are hopeful to launch Phase 2 in the future dedicated to teenagers.
While the peak season is expected in winter, Hip Hooray Indoor Play will launch early June, in time for when school is over.
“It’s going to be a slow transition I feel, and I think that’s a good thing, because we’re just two stay-at-home moms that are just jumping into this and are the only employees,” said Marci Hira, who also organizes the Superhero Clean-up and the Strathmore Children’s Festival.
“It’s going to be a great time and I think it’s going to be awesome for days when it’s really hot, or if it’s thundering and lightning outside, or if it’s really gross out. We’re going to be that alternative where kids can go.”
For more information or to donate contact Hip Hooray Indoor Play at marci@hiphoorayplay.com or christy@hiphoorayplay.com.