An indoor children’s playground with a cafe could be coming this year to Lambertville.
Muhamad Younes of Lambertville, owner of Sylvania Playland in Sylvania, Ohio, wants to build an indoor children’s playground with a cafe area in vacant Units 4 and 5 at the Kroger plaza, 3462 W. Sterns Road.
Younes’ plan was granted special use approval June 10 by the Bedford Township Planning Commission after a public hearing.
“My plan is to have this open in two months,” Younes said at the meeting.
According to documents read at the meeting by Jodie Rector, planning and zoning administrator, the approximately 6,600 square-foot indoor children’s playground will be geared toward children through age 8 and their families.
Amenities will include soft play structures, ball pit, sensory/discovery zone, imaginative play spaces, private party room and a café seating area with a limited menu of coffee drinks and quick-service items.
Proposed hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays with extended evening hours on weekends. Children must be accompanied by parents or guardians at all times.
Younes, a father of three, said there’s a need for a children’s play space in the Lambertville area. At the meeting, he said his wife and her friends with children look for places to take their kids.
“A place for busy moms to take kids. They are driving out to Toledo, Maumee, Perrysburg (to get) respite for an hour where their play somewhere. That’s really what stemmed this idea in the beginning,” Younes said. “Why not make it here? Why not give it to Bedford Township?”
He said cleanliness and safety are his priorities.
“We will have a process in place where there is a check-in (and check-out). Parents have to be there,” Younes said.
Planning Commission member Jake Lake told Younes, “This is a pretty extensive set-up. If we approve it today, that’s December (completion deadline according to township requirements). Would you be able to be set up this quickly?”
Younes said he hoped to finish the project in two months. He mentioned Sylvania Playland, which he bought two years ago.
“We just upgraded everything. I’ve been through this before,” Younes said.
Sylvania Playland, according to its website, is an indoor playground and bounce house. It’s open seven days a week and also offers party space and special events.
Kirstin Kramer of Lambertville spoke during public comment time.
“I think it’s a great idea. That section (of the Kroger plaza) has sat vacant. It would be good for our community. I have littles. I would love to have a place like this to take them,” Kramer said. “The idea is popular and I think it would be successful here. They are a great family. I think they are trying to do great things for the community.”
“I think it will be a benefit to the township,” Lake said.
— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Indoor children’s playground approved for Lambertville. What we know
Reporting by Suzanne Nolan Wisler, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
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By Suzanne Nolan Wisler, The Monroe News | USA TODAY Network
