Construction continues on Wayne County Children's STEAM Playlab, summer 2023 opening eyed

DALTON – Roughly two miles east of the village just off Lincoln Way East, sits a white building across from the parking lot of Dutch Kitchen.

This 44,000-square-foot structure with its empty interior may not look like much, but Lori Colon and Delight Howells are excited to see it transform into the Wayne County Children’s STEAM Playlab.

Colon, founder and board president of the Playlab, joined Howells, the director of LincWay, in 2019 when they both had the idea to start a children’s museum and began their journey to make it a reality.

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Despite the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, the two say construction is progressing well and they are hoping to open parts of the building this fall. With more funding needed to meet their goals and lots of work ahead, Colon and Howells are optimistic and look forward to seeing it all come together.

Playlab is slowly but surely coming together

Since breaking ground last summer, most of the flooring and walls have been completed throughout the Playlab and LincWay spaces, but shipping delays have pushed back the planned summer opening of some LincWay spaces to early fall, Howells said.

For example, she said, there was a delay in receiving a drive-through window for the café. By September or October, Howells said, she hopes to open the hair salon, art studio, rentable office spaces and community conference rooms that are along the side of the building.

Although construction of the Playlab is not as far along, Colon said, the space will eventually house roughly 10 different interactive exhibits such as a Dino dig, NASA space exploration and Kid City with a miniature Amish house.

Colon said they plan to change the exhibits every three years but will keep some aspects such as the atrium space with the tree at the center surrounded by an aquarium full of fish.

Future of the museum

Once the Playlab is open, which Colon anticipates will be next summer, the space will be available to the local community and schools as well as to anyone interested in visiting, including corporations planning company retreats.

With 33% of the roughly $7 million needed to fund the project, Colon said, she is hoping to raise the rest through a new partnership program called the 12/25 and a 5K and family fun day they are co-hosting with the village of Dalton in October. More information and updates about the program and 5K can be found on the Playlab’s website and Facebook page.

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Although there are other children’s spaces around the state, Colon and Howells hope by taking on this project they can inspire others to explore creative ideas.

“Connecting people to a story is key,” Colon said. “… It gives aspirations to others to be able to say, ‘Well, if they did that, I can do that,’ and really that's what a whole children's science center is about is inspiring others to dream and create, explore and become something.”

Reach Rachel Karas at rkaras@gannett.com   

On Twitter: @RachelKaras3 

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Children's Playlab in Dalton eyes summer 2023 opening