How do I create a Center for Creative Play® Environment™ in my community?


How do I get started?
Creating an environment that welcomes and supports children and families, as they play, learn, and grow together, is an exciting and arduous task. To be successful, you must garner the support of the community, agencies, foundations, and countless volunteers. As you begin working with Center for Creative Play®, you will need to form a "playspace committee". Your committee will assess play areas and indoor play environments currently available in your community (i.e. children's museums, science centers, recreation centers, YM/WCAs, etc.). Each environment should be reviewed for accessibility, availability to the public, and the range of play experiences for all children. This will provide the community with a platform for considering their goals for an indoor playspace, and identifying potential partners in developing a Center for Creative Play® Environment™.

Who should be on my "Play Space Committee"?
The most effective committees are comprised of dedicated individuals who are committed to creating inclusive, universally accessible family play opportunities. Center for Creative Play® requires that a committee of no less than 8 people be formed to articulate the goals of the project, and that at least three members or 1/3 of the committee be comprised of parents of children with disabilities. When fulfilling the additional committee seats, keep in mind that parents, teachers, politicians, agency leaders, therapeutic, architectural, construction and design professionals can make excellent committee members. You may also consider enlisting help from local organizations such as United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, your local Association for the Education of Young Children, Rotary, Lions or Kiwanis. Persons of varying skill sets should be selected to assist you in the variety of activities that will occur. Regular meetings of this committee should be held.

What support system does Center for Creative Play® offer to assist in developing my environment?
Center for Creative Play® is considered a national leader in universally accessible, fully inclusive indoor playspaces. CFCP supports communities in articulating and developing their vision for an exciting and engaging; fully accessible indoor family play facility, and than CFCP provides the training and technical assistance needed to transform the vision into a reality. Center for Creative Play design and consultation services can be contracted as a full service package or tailored to meet the needs and goals of the community. The result: a playspace for children and families that reflects the community's cultures, priorities, and personality, while reflecting the latest and most innovative research in universal access, child development, and play.

A Play Environment Specialist from Center for Creative Play® provides technical assistance; mentoring and, training which may include:

• Community development / partnerships
• Playspace Committee development
• Funds Development
• Programming and design consultation
• Site selection
• Priority establishment
• Conceptual design
• Program design
• Budget Development
• Staff selection, structure, training

What are the essential features of a Center for Creative Play® Environment?
In the eleven years that Center for Creative Play® has provided active and creative play for all children and families, critical design elements have emerged. All organizations working with CFCP to develop a playspace will be asked to commit to the following CFCP design criteria including:

• Universal Design Principles
• Developmentally Appropriate Practices (as defined by NAEYC)
• Experiential Variety
• Play Areas that include: big muscle play, manipulative play, pretend play, creative arts

What should I look for in selecting a location?

Host Organization: CFCP suggests that you partner with a host non-profit organization if you are not currently part of such an organization. Considerations include but are not limited to full administrative support of the sponsoring agency or organization; a mission and vision supportive of inclusive, accessible family play experiences; appropriate staff support and supervision; and public access to the facility and programs. Host organizations may include children's museums, science/history museums, YM/YWCA programs, community recreation centers, multi-agency collaborations, etc.

Facility: Considerations should include accessible entrances, facilities and parking. The dimensions, flexibility in placement of walls/rooms/plumbing, abatement costs, build out costs, and accessibility to major modes of transportation are also important considerations.

What size should the location be?
The space should be of a size that will support the number of children and families you want to serve and the range of play experiences you plan to offer. We recommend 5,000 to 15, 000 sq. feet of play space, but are willing to work with whatever size is feasible for your organization.. In order to support creative and active play in a safe environment, careful consideration of the use and distribution of space is essential.

How long will it take to build a Center for Creative Play® Environment™?
The timeframe for building a Center for Creative Play® Environment™ can range from 8-24 months. Unique site constraints and challenges (i.e. structural issues, abatement) can significantly impact your timing. Fundraising is also a major factor in determining how quickly you move through the process.

What is a Feasibility Study?
We recommend, as early in the process as possible, that you choose an appropriate design professional to complete a feasibility study. This should include the dimensions (including heights) of the existing or proposed site, note weight bearing elements, existing plumbing, etc. with standard architectural scales noted on each drawing. Access points and attached facility considerations should also be included.

Who will operate the play space?
When you approach a sponsoring agency for the proposed play space, it is critical that you also consider the on-going operation, programming, staffing, and funding of the facility. A Center for Creative Play® Environment™ requires on-going support of the children and families using the space in order to fully engage all children in active and creative play experiences. Creative play materials will need to be stocked, cleaned and maintained. Toys will need to be sorted and replaced in the appropriate space; children and families will need access to supplies and information. The staffing structure and budget will be based on the size and complexity of the environment.

What is the typical budget?
There is no "typical budget" for a a Center for Creative Play® Environment™. Budget considerations will be based on the size and complexity of the facility, the sponsoring or host organization and their staffing and support structures, hours of operation, programming, etc. Two areas of budget must be thoroughly addressed before you begin:

Construction: securing and preparing the interior space including abatement, deconstruction, etc.; designing the space; constructing the space; millwork; materials and equipment.

Operation: toys, materials, art supplies, programming, staff, insurance, cleaning and maintenance, etc.

Specific budget numbers can be addressed with your Play Environment Specialist. CFCP will work with you to create both of these budgets if you purchase the business planning package portion of our consulting services.

How DOES Center for Creative Play® provide fund development assistance?
Center for Creative Play® may provide coaching on fund development techniques and strategies as part of the business planning package. We can provide a list of foundations that support projects in your area, as well as sample grants with guidelines as you begin the grant writing process. CFCP is also available to assist in identifying local businesses and corporations that may have an interest in supporting or sponsoring the project.

Who will work on my design?
Your CFCP Play Environment Specialist, with support from the Center for Creative Play® design team, will work with your committee to prepare the conceptual design. The Specialist will be available to work with your design professional regarding specific site design issues, universal accessibility, and Center for Creative Play design criteria. The Center's design team is not a substitute for your design professional, but rather will provide the child-focused design aspects as they relate to your project. Your specialist will be available to come on site four times during the construction process to ensure that the space develops in a way that is consistent with your play goals, CFCP Design Criteria and guidelines for universal access. A hallmark of a a Center for Creative Play® Environment™ is the blending of form and function. This balance requires a close collaboration between the Center's Play Environment Specialist, the local design professional, the contractor, and most importantly, your play space committee.

Will someone from Center for Creative Play® visit our community?
During the Center for Creative Play's Community Partnership Process a Play Environment Specialist from the Center is scheduled to visit your site four times during the project.

What are the added benefits of working with Center for Creative Play®?
Center for Creative Play® has operated an inclusive, universally accessible family play facility that engages all children in active and creative play for over 50,000 children and families over the past 11 years. CFCP has garnered over $5 million to support construction and operation of a facility that serves over 45,000 visitors annually. The expertise and resources developed in the creation of this project will support your community in your efforts to effectively and efficiently develop a facility that provides active and creative play experiences for children of all abilities and their families.

If you want more information on CFCP's Community Partnership Process, you may complete a request information sheet and one of our Play Environment Specialists will be in contact with you.

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