Grand Reopening of Outdoor Playspace at the Children’s Museum of SECT

The wait is finally over! The Children’s Museum of Southeastern Connecticut, 409 Main St., invites the public to celebrate the grand re-opening of its outdoor playspace on Saturday, March 27, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Explore the latest additions and enjoy special celebration activities. The event is free with museum admission.

The newly redesigned museum side yard provides a creative environment that stimulates learning and provides opportunities for active play for all ages and abilities, as well as meeting ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards.

Simple machines is the main theme for the area, where children can experiment with screws, levers, ramps, wheels, axles, pulleys, and wedges to enhance imaginative play and to help develop gross motor skills. Children can also have fun with new child-sized shovels, wheelbarrows, buckets and rope, outdoor dress-up clothing for the stage area, paint brushes, and a large, German-made sulky—similar to a rickshaw. There is new fencing, a redesigned outdoor stage, a water-play area, and a huge sand pit. The climbing wall has a new mural and children can make music on a variety of creative, outdoor musical instruments. There is also an area set aside for quiet and reflection.

The museum has put out a call to interested youth for tree fort ideas and plans, a special feature of the playspace, to be built this summer. To join the Tree Fort Committee, call Melissa Gula at (860) 691-1111, Ext. 302.

Funding from the Dime Savings Bank Foundation, Charter Oak Credit Union, and Liberty Bank supports much of the playspace, which was designed by museum staff.