Kurt Hauglie/Daily Mining Gazette
HOUGHTON - Adults and older children can take part in winter outdoor activities without too many difficulties, but for young children it can be problematic, which is a concern for some local parents. One of those parents is Jessica della Valla, who brought the idea of an indoor play space to staff at the Keweenaw Family Resources Center in Houghton in May. As a result of that contact, the Friends of Winter Park was created with della Valla as the chairwoman and the KFRC as the developing agency. "It was a natural fit," said Cathy Benda, KFRC executive director. "It was well received (by the board members). Other parents have made the suggestion (for such a facility)." After months of searching, a location for the indoor playspace has been found in two units of the Red Ridge Plaza on Sharon Avenue in Houghton. However, the name was changed from Winter Park to Treehouse, A KFRC Indoor Playground. Della Valla said the playground will be for children up to 5 years old. After the plan was announced in June, the idea was well-received locally. "We had several parents who said, 'We wish we had done this,'" she said. Della Valla said the theme of the playground is "the outdoors indoors." The layout (which can be seen at houghtonwinterpark.blogspot.com) includes a treehouse, suspension bridge, crash pit, or safe area, and crawl tunnel on one side of the space. The other side will have the KFRC offices and more play space as well as a quiet area and breastfeeding area. Each side is 1,500 square feet. The design work for the Winter Park will be done by students of Rick Loduha, Finlandia University associate professor of art and design. Della Valla said besides being fun for children, the play area will be designed to help children develop physically and psychologically. The center will be a "hub of wellness," della Valla said, where parents can get information about many things pertaining to children. "It sounds funny, a playground is going to have a philosophy," she said. Della Valla said she wanted to emphasize the playspace will not be a childcare center. "This is specifically a place where caregivers must stay with the child," she said. Benda said the playspace will be accessible to children with physical and mental developmental disabilities. "We want to make the space available to all kids," she said. Those special needs will be met, Benda said, because one of the members of the design committee for the facility is a pediatric physical therapist who knows what their needs are. Della Valla said the Red Ridge Plaza is owned by brother and sister Madelyn and Michael Wilder, and the lease for the space was finalized Tuesday. In order to have two contiguous units, the Wilders asked an existing tenant, Cartridges and More, to move to another location in the shopping center, which they did without dispute. "They didn't even blink," she said. "This was the best. We have landlords who were willing to work with us." To pay for the construction of the playspace, Benda said the KFRC officially begins its fundraising effort on Nov. 1. The goal is $100,000. Before that, however, in order to get people acquainted with the project and the fundraising effort, the KFRC will conduct a Fall Into Winter Preschool Family Fun Day at Houghton High School from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 24. There will games and other entertainment. Bids for the construction and equipment are being taken, Benda said, and it's hoped the Winter Park can open in January. Benda said KFRC members are excited about the Winter Park project. "This will enrich the quality of life for everybody in the Keweenaw," she said.
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