Parents looking for an outdoor experience for their kids can now find one inside: Badlands, a nature-inspired play space for children of multiple ages, will open in Rockville this spring, its owners announced Friday.
The 30,000-square-foot space will be located in Loehmann’s Plaza at 5200 Randolph Road, according to a press release from owners Mikel and David Blair.
With its large open space, Badlands will feature a number of activities including a thicket of birch trees, a ropes course, a labyrinth and a large model mountain complete with crevices that kids can play in. The facility will also include nature exhibits and a makerspace, a workspace that makes use of technological equipment.
Mikel Blair said Feb. 14 that she was inspired to start the play space when seeing how her own children tended to often change directions in their play. As a family, they enjoyed going to museums, but the kids also wanted to jump around and be active as they were learning.
"I just found that, as wonderful of offerings as we have in our area, there was an opportunity or some space to provide both of those opportunities under the same roof: this museum component that we love as a family and that running, jumping and climbing experience as well," Blair said.
Along with various options for children’s play, Badlands will have its own space for parents. The press release promises “unexpectedly chic areas” where adults can sit and eat gourmet food and enjoy drinks as they watch their children play. The owners applied to the Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control for a liquor license, according to county records. Blair said the cafe area will serve wine, craft beer and signature cocktails in addition to coffee, paninis, wraps and salads.
Badlands, which the press release says will be “the largest nature-inspired play space in the Mid-Atlantic,” will offer enrichment classes for toddlers and will stress more informal learning for older kids who can explore the nature-like play features at their leisure.
“The Badlands experience has been designed with whole child development in mind,” Program Director Danny Haley said in the press release. “We will empower children by teaching mindfulness and providing the opportunity for them to take risks, physically and creatively.”
