Kay Masick, owner of My Place to Play in Rotterdam, said the business, which provides a place where kids can have fun and interact while parents connect, has been a long time coming.
“We started working on it when my husband and I had our daughter [in 1997],” said Masick, who also has a son, born in 2006. “At the time we didn’t have any friends with children, and, being a stay-a-home mom, there were a lot of afternoons we were staying home lonely.”
The playroom opened in May 2011, finally bringing Masick’s vision to the public. As a Rotterdam resident, Masick said she wanted to offer something new to her community, which is why My Place to Play encourages socialization among children and parents.
For information on prices, hours and programming, visit www.myplace2play.com.
“I really enjoy watching the kids interact with each other. They make friends instantly and don’t worry about whether or not they will get along,” she said. “The next thing you know, they are instant friends. … As soon as the kids start to play, the mothers start to talk.”
She said that while the business plan developed over time, the biggest issue was obtaining funding.
“It took us over four years to get the funding,” she said.
After years of searching, the Community Loan Fund of the Capital District provided the needed financial support. The organization is a nonprofit financial institution with a focus on community development.
“We were pleased to work with Kay to help her realize her dream. My Place to Play is a great idea, and we will continue to support Kay as her business grows,” said Joe Landy, lending officer for Community Loan Fund.
Masick said some of the inspiration for the playroom came from visiting local businesses. She said she liked the hands-on nature of the Saratoga Children’s Museum, but that and other locations she would visit with her children were a bit of a drive, and she couldn’t find what she was looking for locally.
“My husband and I both grew up in Rotterdam. … We really felt this community was in need of something local,” she said.
The playroom features model shop areas replicating a cafe, workshop and vehicle room, as well as an arcade room and toddler area.
Masick said she is hoping to expand the playroom’s offerings in the future.
“We would love to expand to offer after-school care for kindergarten-through-third grades to give a safe and encouraging environment,” she said.
For information on prices, hours and programming, visit www.myplace2play.com.
