On December 9, Penfield Children’s Center in Milwaukee embarked on a fundamental shift in its infrastructure, breaking ground on a significant renovation of its indoor playground, which serves as a cornerstone of the center's early childhood education and development programs. In the words of Penfield's vice president of programs, Ann Becker, "This renovation is a big step in supporting the growth and development of the kids we serve." Becker stressed the importance of the new space for children to "explore, learn, and thrive," in a statement obtained by TMJ4.
The important, initiative is supported by a $480,000 capital campaign and is set to transform the current playground into an engaging environment featuring interactive play stations, including a tree fort, pirate ship, and an RV camper. The designs are a product of Captivate Exhibits' experts, according to reports from both FOX6Now and TMJ4. Additionally, the play area—dubbed 'Camp Wilder'—aims to not only foster physical development but also encourage the growth of social relationships among children.
Demonstrated in the ceremonial commencement was a unified front of Penfield's executive team alongside construction partners such as Smart Spaces, a BSI integration partner, and Selzer-Ornst. These entities collectively took the symbolic initiative to launch the project, which promises a more inclusive and stimulating environment for children to build essential motor skills required for their respective phases of growth. This narrative was augmented by Polina Makievsky, Penfield's president and CEO, who described the future 'Camp Wilder' as being much different than the "well loved" current playground, in details shared by CBS 58.
Located at 833 N. 26th St., Milwaukee, the Penfield Children’s Center for more than fifty years, has been a beacon for supporting children's developmental needs, both with and without disabilities. With the advent of 'Camp Wilder', the facility is poised to strengthen its impact on children up to five years of age through an environment specifically engineered for their developmental stages. "We're going to have a camper, a waterfall, a ship, a lot of wonderful exhibits," Makievsky told CBS 58, highlighting the anticipated features with intentions to cater to the multifaceted needs of the children.
