May 2009 - CRAWLING CLIMBING CREATIONS
Well, you can’t beat FREE. For the budget conscience family with energetic children, you don’t have to travel too far to the Bolingbrook Park District’s Imagination Station.
For an environment that is not oversized or overcrowded, Imagination Station is open to all ages but is probably best suited for the younger crowd, perhaps under the age of 10. They offer a climber system that is a combination of nets, pads, rollers, and a slide. A nice feature of this playroom is that it can offer just as much stimulation for a crawling baby as it can for the active climber. The website says that children can burn energy, work on their motor skills, use their imagination, and make problem-solving decisions. The younger crowd can meander through some triangular padded posts and make their way around the maze to find more padded rollers and turns. There are also steering wheels installed for a child to pretend to drive their tractor, car, or bus. With the wide variety of climbing opportunities for the older crowd, and ground level activities for the younger crowd, this free active zone is great for a wide variety of ages.
The playroom also provides child size tables and chairs if you wanted to bring any color books or added play materials for a child that may not be interested in the climber/play system. Also provided in the room are adult size chairs and coat racks. If you bring a stroller, you may want to leave it outside the room due to the limited space.
The Bolingbrook Recreation & Aquatic Center is located at 200 S. Lindsey Lane, Bolingbrook, IL 60440. Their phone number is 630-739-1700. If you are familiar with the Pelican Harbor in Bolingbrook, the Imagination Station is at the same address. Their website is www.bolingbrookparks.org/services. There is no fee unless you come with a group of six of more, and then there is a $1.50/child fee to ensure the park district maintains enough space for their residents. The hours are Monday-Friday 11:00am-1:30pm and 3:30pm-8:00pm, and Saturdays 11:00am-4:00pm. Parental supervision is required and don’t forget your socks!
Where else can we go? Keep reading the following issues to find out more about what’s going on in the communities around you.
