Sound Adds “Element of Surprise” to New Westfield Gateway Indoor Play Area

February 10, 2012

“I see parents getting more involved with their kids on the indoor play elements,” says Ryan Bouc, Marketing Director. “This new Play Space is more fun for everyone because there are a lot of sounds incorporated into the elements.”

According to Bouc, the entire Westfield portfolio of shopping centers prides itself on serving families well. This new soft foam play area at Westfield Gateway, located in Lincoln, NE, is one way in which Westfield meets its mission to provide family-friendly experiences.

“At Westfield, we are very focused on creating a great shopping experience to make it easy and comfortable for moms and fun for their kids,” says Bouc. “The focus on family amenities and services extends beyond upgrading Play Spaces to include signature family dining and lounges. Our Family Lounges, for instance, offer nursing stations, microwaves, bottle warmers, toys and a family dining area.”

Located near the Family Lounge, the Westfield Gateway Play Space opened on December 17 and, according to Bouc, it was an instant success. The most beloved characters in the new play area are the custom-made Sandhill Cranes, which were requested by Westfield because of the area’s reputation as the “Sandhill Crane Capital of the World.”

“Over 500,000 cranes pass through the Kearney area of Nebraska every year,” says Bouc. “Many of the families in our community travel to see the migration. It meant a lot to them that we were able to include such a great icon in our Play Space.”

Westfield Gateway worked with PLAYTIME, LLC on the new play area equipment. PLAYTIME designed, manufactured and installed all of the soft foam play elements, the new colorful seating, the DuraSoft themed carpeting and even the butterflies that hang above the play area.

“The reaction since we opened has been fantastic,” says Bouc. “Each day, when I’m doing my daily walk around the mall, I hear parents saying, ‘This is great!’ And I definitely see that parents are so much more interactive with their kids in this play area because of the sound. They push on the frog and see their kid’s face light up when it ribbits.”

Bouc believes that the play area is tangible evidence of Westfield’s commitment to families.

“We aim to provide the best common area experiences and this play area helps us live up to that expectation,” he says, adding, “Playtime does a great job. They’re the leader in the industry with these play systems.”