Allyn Foundation, Play Space working on capital campaign
By Jason Gabak
Editor
The idea for the Play Space in Auburn traces its roots back to 2010 when the Allyn Foundation convened a group of community stakeholders, parents, and service providers to develop a community-wide strategy that would support parents and families as a key part of success in early childhood development.
The group evolved into a formal task force known as ABC Cayuga.
In 2012, ABC Cayuga surveyed over 500 county residents and collected input from parents, caregivers, and partners through numerous programs and outreach activities, according to a press release from the Allyn Foundation.
The data highlighted that parents in largely rural Cayuga County struggle with isolation and wanted a place to connect with other young families and community resources. Numerous parents said they felt like they were “parenting on an island,” according to the survey.
With this data, ABC Cayuga researched models across the country focusing on engaging children and supporting families. Neither traditional children’s museums nor family resource centers fit the need that ABC Cayuga sought to address.
Instead, ABC Cayuga agreed to adopt the Strengthening Families model developed by the Center for the Study of Social Policy to support early childhood development and prevent child abuse and neglect.
Its research-based, comprehensive approach supports all families and is grounded in the five protective factors: Parental Resilience, Social Connections, Knowledge of parenting and child development, Concrete support in times of need and Social and emotional competence of children.
In 2017, the Play Space opened its doors at 63 Genesee St. in Auburn.
The 5,000 sq. ft. space was designed by Roto, a national firm with expertise in designing, constructing and installing interactive play exhibits for children’s museums worldwide.
According to the organization’s press release, by all measures this has been a successful endeavor.
Since opening, there have been 40,000 visitors, many from Skaneateles, Camillus, Marcellus, Jordan and Elbridge, with 15,000 just in 2019 and an average of 60 guests per day.
Partnership with Cayuga County Department of Social Services has provided over 120 memberships to families receiving benefits.
There have also been other benefits, such as creating 220 partnerships with speech and language pathologists and occupational and physical therapists for early intervention services and numerous supervised visitations whereby birth families can connect with foster families in a supportive environment for children.
With all that the Play Space has offered and all the people it has helped, all involved are seeking to expand the facility to a larger space in order to continue and improve upon service to guests from all over Cayuga and Onondaga counties.
According to the press release, by moving to a new facility, the Play Space will be able to expand programming for its existing target audience (0-5 year olds), introduce programming for 6-8 year olds, many of whom come to the Play Space with their younger siblings, as well as address the parking/accessibility challenges at the current location and partner with social services agencies to create a one-stop shop with co-located partner agencies.
Since COVID-19, things have changed dramatically for many, but it has given the Play Space partners time to consider the best path for its future.
“It has become clear that the time to move is now,” the press release said. “A buyer’s market creates a significant opportunity for the Play Space to secure a new space more affordably, allowing it to grow into its potential and respond appropriately to the new demands of a pandemic environment.”
At this time, the building committee has found a location at 98-104 North Street in Auburn.
“The larger Play Space will be able to allow for: greater compliance with physical distancing requirements; outdoor space important for families normally, but especially helpful during the pandemic; a new HVAC system improving the quality of the airflow; and ultraviolet cleaning critical to the health of our community visiting and working in the Play Space,” the press release said. “Safe, private parking removes a significant barrier to access for families. It is also opportune given the current lease expires in 2021, and the need for a preparation phase ideally dovetailing with the opening phases of the pandemic response.”
Currently the organization is looking at fundraising to purchase the new building.
According to the press release, the net purchase price of the building is $900,000.
“We have secured $300,000 for the down payment and closing costs and will finance $600,000, offered through the seller,” the press release said.
The organization estimates it will need approximately $540,000 for interior build out as well as building improvements to the HVAC, exterior masonry repair and repainting and repaving of the parking lot.
“We have built an operating budget looking at the next three years, the five-year mark, and the ten-year mark,,” the press release said. “These figures are based on the Play Space’s three years of operation to date and a set of key assumptions. We have a good sense of what it costs to run the Play Space effectively and that with more space and programming, we will be able to increase our earned income through higher numbers of memberships sold, walk-in visitors, event rental contracts, summer camps and vacation care, and tenant rental (Child Care Solutions and WIC). To remain mission-aligned, we will not be raising admission or membership fees and do not expect to engage in formalized contracts with partners, such as supervised visitation or therapists, who serve our families in such an important way. We should note that some of these on-site engagements do, in fact, result in visits and memberships.”
As part of its capital campaign, the organization is reaching out to the community to garner support.
To learn more visit playspaceabc.com.
Submitted photo
A rendering of what the future Play Space could look like. The Play Space is an initiative that has been supported through the Allyn Foundation and serves families across Onondaga and Cayuga counties.
