Happy Kids at play

The temperatures are dropping quickly and the thought of shivering at an outdoor playground while children play is getting less appealing for parents.

Chao Shi is a local Halifax parent and he was tiring of finding safe, warm places for his child to play during Halifax’s harsh, cold winters. When his wife suggested he consider opening an indoor playground he jumped at the idea.

“We wanted to create a place where our daughter could play so we decided to create an indoor playground for Halifax kids,” Shi, the owner and manager, explains of his motivation behind the business.

Happy Kids Indoor Playground was the result. The Bedford venue has an ocean park vibe with walls covered in sea themed murals. It boasts the biggest ball pit in Eastern Canada, which spills out of a play ship. They also have a large climbing structure with a 10.8-foot high slide that is 30 feet long that looks like a waterfall. They have a separate area for toddlers with a mini slide and foam building blocks to keep them safe from the swashbuckling big kids.

Shi says keeping kids safe is high on their priority list so they’ve added security cameras and made any hard surfaces soft to cushion bumps and falls. The total play area is around 3,500 square feet plus a small cafeteria area where kids and parents can refuel with a hot beverage and a snack.

Shi says he chose the Larry Uteck area of Bedford to locate the business because of the growth it’s seen in recent years. He adds that a bonus he’s discovered since he’s been working on the playground is what a friendly and welcoming neighbourhood it has been as well.

The facility has capacity to hold about 80 people at one time and will be open Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission varies depending on the child’s age and the day of week but ranges from $6.99 to $11.99, and they offer discounts for a second child in one family who is visiting at the same time. Adults and children under one year old are free. They also have a room set aside for birthday parties and are already seeing bookings start to fill up after offering pre-opening tours. One other unique component is their membership card system. Shi says for every dollar spent the owner of the card can collect a point. These points can then be redeemed for snacks at the cafeteria, gifts they will sell, such as tee shirts, and admission tickets.

Shi is excited about seeing the families arrive to enjoy the space he’s created for them.

“We just want to provide a happy place for children,” he says.

They had their grand opening November 21 and are located at 27 Dellridge Lane, unit 108, in Bedford at the top of Larry Uteck Drive. They can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/happykidshalifax.