A Dallas couple is working with a longtime friend to design a concept that will cater to the unique needs of their children — and other kids — to enjoy inclusive recreation indoors.
“One of my really close friends, Joel Doolen, and his wife, Kelcey, close to a year ago had a little baby girl with Down Syndrome,” Troy Horning told The Dallas Express. “Their boy is about 3. Just over the last couple of years, they’ve been taking him around to indoor playgrounds. The idea is how we can develop something that’s absolutely intended for all children but can provide some of the interior apparatus for those with special needs.”
Thus, the “Down To Play” concept was born.
“It’s still very early for us,” he said. “But the idea is to provide a very safe and clean place for parents and babysitters to go have fun. I’ve sort of found myself almost calling it, ’12-month-olds to 12-year-olds.’ Are we going to have much to offer a kiddo who is too young to walk? Probably not. But we welcome anyone to come and hang out with us.”
And while children older than 12 will be allowed at Down To Play, Horning said every child must be accompanied by an adult because it will not be “a drop-off place.”
“We’re kind of walking-age, up to elementary school, if you will. We probably don’t want 13- and 14-year-old kids close to 6 feet tall running around and scaring a little kid coming down a slide.”
Horning said his staff will be “very well-trained” and “kind and sweet.” Eventually, Down To Play hopes to offer a “Parents Night Out” program, and Horning said birthday parties “are going to be a very big deal for us.”
“We’ll have party rooms and a sensory room for kids with certain needs, and people will be able to bring in outside food for parties,” Horning explained to The Dallas Express. “Our goal is to create and build a business that allows us to open to more kiddos in different parts of town and grow from the inside out. I think we’re pretty confident that if we can make this work in that location, why not try other locations and impact lives around the metroplex?”
Horning expects to open Down To Play over the next couple of months after spending an estimated $350,000 to renovate more than 5,400 square feet of retail space at 6464 E. Northwest Hwy. — the Medallion Center. Renovations are expected to be completed in March.
“We just got our plans approved and are finalizing everything as far as signage and so forth.”
Down To Play will open in Suite 108.
