ideas for a development- child friendly (baby, toddlers, games, play)

[hlsess]

Looking for any ideas for an area in a downtown area near a park- what do you have or wish you had that would make an area family friendly

[Hopes]

Lots of benches and picnic tables with shade. (It's hot and humid in the summer where I live. Shade is super important!)

Game boards embedded on concrete table tops, like checker/chess in NYC parks.

Game boards embedded wide concrete/stone walkway areas---like hop scotch.

A fountain that is child friendly for children to run through in the summer----like water that squirts out of the concrete/stone surface that's rough so kids can't slip. If that can't be created safe enough, some type of water feature that allows children to get wet.

Lots of grassy areas so families can bring their own entertainment---balls, frisbee, etc.

Child friendly sculptures (they can hide under, etc.) depicting things that children are attracted to not overly abstract.

Anything BUT mulch for a safety base for a playground, but not that rubber stuff that smells and gets hot.

I'll think of some more....

[Penguin_ie]

Fenced in playground/ small park area. I have two toddlers and a baby and it's really difficult to go to a playground as they'll wander in opposite directions...

Decent bathrooms with big stalls to bring kids in with you, and changing station in the men's too.

Playground with areas for different aged kids.

[nana053]

skokie exploratorium - Google Search

This is one of the best places for kids. it is in the basement of Skokie’s park district building. The highlight and claim to fame is its 2+ story climbing maze with cylinders to crawl through, grappling hooks to swing on, levels to climb up, punching bags to dodge and push, and twisting slides that take you to the bottom so you can climb up again. The super safe structure often finds Moms and Dad’s contorting themselves through the maze helping their kids get to the top. Your knees will scream in pain as your kids scream, “Again!” The maze is still there and has been renovating and reinforced. New to the Exploratorium will be a climbing wall to further test your kid’s monkey skills.

The Exploratorium is launching a brand new water area this summer. In the past the water area came with rain coats, a thunderstorm exhibit, and a place to play with plastic toys in water. The water area is new and will have brand new exhibits for the summer.

Another favorite that has been updated is the costume area. Different than any other place we have ever been, the Exploratorium has a stage with tons of costumes in a changing area. Everything from swashbuckling pirates, superheroes, princesses, dancers, circus stars, police, and fireman had costumes for kids to try on. It was very typical to see ad-hoc plays and musicals put on by various kids or sets of kids, sometime all going on at the same time. The stage and costume area still exists and have been updated with new costumes and a new look.

The Exploratorium always had educational material including places to draw and color, read, arts and crafts, and computers. The computers have several applications including reading games, math exercises and various science learning material. Added to all of this is now a music wall exhibit where kids can see if they will be the next American Idol.

The Exploratorium is $3 a person for residents of Skokie and $5 for non-residents.