Columbus-area indoor playground is safe space for children with disabilities
Cohen Clokey beamed as he bounced on the trampoline at his mother’s encouragement.
The 2-year-old then bent to retrieve a ball and threw it toward the basketball hoop mounted on the trampoline’s rim.
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Despite missing, the smile didn’t leave his face as he toddled over to the edge and walked down the stairs to the floor. A few moments later, his mother, Cara Clokey, pushed him on a small platform swing, his eyes staring up in wonder at the ropes moved back and forth.
The Clokeys spent a recent morning at We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym in Lewis Center, playing on equipment designed specifically for children with sensory processing disorders such as autism. The two had been to the inclusive indoor playground before since it's a great indoor activity close to their Westerville home, Clokey said.
“There’s so many differentiated choices for the kids of all ages and levels and sensitivities,” said Clokey, 30. “It’s a very welcoming environment with lots to do no matter the age range or academic level. There’s something that meets every child here.”
Clokey appreciates the variety of toys and equipment to keep Cohen busy, especially in the winter. It's also great that he had the ability for him to run around inside the space, she said.
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The gym was opened about four years ago in Lewis Center, said owner Meagan Horn, and provides a safe space for people of all abilities.
About half of the children who go have disabilities, said Horn, who took over ownership of the gym in 2020.
The gym is part of a franchise that began in California, Horn said, and has 117 locations in 28 states and eight countries, according to its website, wrtsfranchise.com.
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“We provide a safe space for people of all abilities to come in and have a place to play and not have to worry about where their ability level is or where their social emotional level is,” Horn said.
The tagline, “Finally a place where you never have to say I’m sorry," and the acceptance that comes along with it mean a lot to manager Ashley McCarthy, whose 7-year-old daughter, Avery, has autism and is nonverbal.
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“We get parents and families in all the time who are constantly talking about how they went somewhere, and they had to apologize for their child’s actions because their child’s actions or behaviors are not understood," Horn said. "We’re a place of acceptance.”
Avery likes to spend time at the gym and will often seek out the calming room, a special place in the back corner where children and others can go and close the curtain if they need some quiet.
“Meltdowns are frequent and welcome and understood in our place, so it's nice to see those families come in and feel like they can just relax and don’t have to worry about when the next meltdown is,” Horn said.
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Gym equipment designed for inclusivity
As she gestured to the gym’s different pieces of equipment, McCarthy said, “It’s all about inclusivity.”
Much of the pieces are similar to what might be found in an occupational therapist’s office, she said, including a zip line, a variety of swings, a slide, big bouncy balls, a trampoline, and climbing walls.
Instead of age-based, all equipment is weight-based so adults and others can also use it.
There’s also an area up front where children can dress up, play with different toys, use a play diner set and do other activities.
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It's where Heidi Hibbler, 52, sat with her grandchildren on a recent morning. Ava, 9, was playing with the diner set, serving her grandmother some scrambled eggs. Her brother, Carter, 3, was playing with the plastic fruit on the plate Ava had presented to Hibbler.
Hibbler found the gym while Googling things to do and decided to visit in part because Ava has neuro-disabilities and ADHD and Carter has a rare heart condition, she said.
“It’s a safe space and they can interact with other kids,” Hibbler said. “We could probably stay here all day.”
The back wall states that the gym is “a place for all kids,” and Horn said she hopes children without disabilities can learn from their peers with disabilities to help foster an inclusive society.
“We just really want a chance for everybody to learn how to interact with each other,” Horn said.
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Many people marvel at the fact that they can bring both their children there, no matter their differing abilities, said Kirsten Dunn, an employee who brings her 7-year-old daughter, Avalie, to work with her.
As Dunn looked out across the gym at all the children playing — including her daughter, Avalie, who has anxiety and ADHD and loves the zip line and talking to the children who come in — she mused about the place she's been going to for years.
“There’s nowhere else like it,” Dunn said.
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If you go:
Check the gym’s Facebook and Instagram pages to see when open play is or book a private party
Cost: $14 per child for two hours of play
Most equipment can accommodate around 200 pounds
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus-area indoor playground caters to children of all abilities
