Lakeshore Littles Playground, in the Beaver Brook Mill, 91 Mill Street, has been open for about a month, and Dracut Economic Development welcomed owner Stephanie Bruce to town with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, April 13.
For a little over two years, Stephanie has run Lakeshore Littles Home Daycare out of her home at 1 Lakeshore Drive in Dracut. She realized that the children in her care didn’t have a place in town where they could go to run around and play indoors.
“One day, the kids were wild and I thought, ‘I wish there was a place I could take them where they could get this energy out,’” she said. “I realized there was nothing like that for younger kids in Dracut.”
So she set about opening one. She found the space at Beaver Brook Mill, a former hair salon next to Owen and Ollie’s Restaurant, and turned it into an indoor playground for kids up to age 6, though kids up to 10 are welcome with siblings.
The playground is bright and welcoming, thanks in part to Stephanie’s boyfriend, Jacob Daniels, an art teacher at Richardson Middle School in Dracut.
Lakeshore Littles Playground features several play areas, including slides, climbing structures, a ball pit, and a separate room for birthday parties and private functions.
While she’s just starting out, Stephanie hopes to someday open Lakeshore Littles Playgrounds in other communities.
“I have parents asking me to bring it more toward Leominster, so I’m hoping eventually to open in other cities,” she said.
On Lakeshore Littles Playground’s website, www.lakeshorelittlespl.wixsite.com/my-site-2, Stephanie says her goal is “to have a safe, fun environment where children and adults can interact with others to foster new friendships.”
Stephanie stresses that Lakeshore Littles Playground is not a drop-off spot. A parent or guardian must stay with a child when he or she is playing.
Kids can play for two hours for $20 (no charge for parents or guardians). Passes are available that allow children to play five times a month for $85. There are also special events. On April 16, for example, Bluey, the title character of an animated TV show, will be on hand.
To find out more, visit the website, or call 978-677-2126.
CAPTION:
Stephanie Bruce, owner of Lakeshore Littles Playground, 91 Mill Street, Dracut, cuts a ribbon to officially open her business, with help from Board of Selectmen Chair Alison Genest and Stephanie’s boyfriend, Jacob Daniels. (DRACUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PHOTO)