By David Slone
Times-Union
WARSAW — Monday was the grand opening for the Lilypad Café & Playcenter at the Kosciusko Community YMCA in Warsaw.
It features a space for young children to play and learn while their parents work remotely nearby. The River Coffee has set up shop next to the workspace for parents — or the public — to enjoy coffee, smoothies or other beverages.
Located inside the YMCA to the right when people enter the front door, the concept was hailed as innovative during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday with the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce.
Kicking off the ceremony for the Lilypad Café & Playcenter, Kosciusko Community YMCA CEO Jim Swanson said, “This is an innovative concept. This is something new and we’re so grateful to many, many people that have helped put this together.”
He thanked the current and prior YMCA Boards of Directors as the vision for the Play Café started prior to the current board. Swanson gave thanks to the YMCA staff who tolerated all the change, construction, routine and flow of traffic.
“So, first of all, our partnership with The River (Coffeehouse). So this was an easy decision, and so we’re grateful for (owner) Amanda (Meerzo),” he said. “… They’ve made quite an impact in our community in the last few years … so we’re grateful for her willingness to take a chance with us and to come on over. And also for her work brewing Generous Coffee, which is also a local entity and very important to our community to have a great product, so we’re very thankful for that.”
Swanson gave thanks to the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the Kosciusko County Community Foundation for funds through their Infant & Toddler Grant Funding from the Lilly Endowment.
“That’s kind of how this all happened. So very grateful that they would trust us, the Y, to take on this new initiative, to reach our community in a new way – like I said earlier, that’s unique and distinct, I think, for YMCAs – so thank you to (KCCF CEO) Stephanie (Overbey), to (Chamber CEO) Rob (Parker), (Child Care & Early Learning Coalition Director) Sherry (Searles) and anybody else … connected to that,” he said.
Play Cafés are transitioning to becoming the “co-worker” space for parents, Swanson said. “So it’s been fun to innovate, to create, to think through what a space like this might look like.”
He said the Y has had great partners in Robinson Construction, Winona IT, Searles and Director of Early Childhood Programming Ashlee Parker to develop the concept.
“The mission of the YMCA is ‘dedicated to providing comprehensive programs that enrich communities and all people who live in them to pursue a healthy mind, body and spirit.’ We believe, and our partners believe, that this concept aligns with the Y’s mission and that the space will provide community engagement and social interaction among families and provide a safe, welcoming environment for children to learn and play,” Swanson said.
Searles said, “This is a dream come true, a vision come true for us. LaunchPad is an initiative at the Chamber of Commerce, and we wanted to have as many options for working families as possible. This just offers another option for folks who are trying to work and parent young children at the same time. So, the Lilypad was born, a lot of different hands and minds went into this. (Lilypad Play Café Director) Ashlee (Parker) did a wonderful job of creating the space and bringing our vision to life.”
Many of the Play Cafés that people see now, Searles said, are really focused on running, playing and motor skills.
“You will see that in there. That gross motor is so important. But this is really a space that is very holistic, where children are going to have math and science and literacy,” she said, so a cognitive impact as well as a physical one. “So this space is being curated for that and we are so excited for the enriching opportunities that children will have while their parents sit out here and work or have a meeting.”
Two quiet, private offices are available for parents to leave on a first-come, first-served basis, with reservations.
She thanked the YMCA for partnering with them to make the vision a reality.
Parker said the Play Café has been a long time coming.
“We’ve had a lot of hands and feet in this, and it’s just been nice to have a lot of teams to work together and it really has been a group effort,” she said. “As Sherry said, we are offering open-ended play opportunities for children to explore, ages 6 weeks through 4 years old.”
There will be staff and a lot of open-ended activities for the children to explore, create and be imaginative, Parker reiterated.
“We’re just really thankful for our partners and our generous donors for making this possible, and offering this – another affordable, accessible option for childcare for maybe parents who have a hybrid work schedule or they’re just looking for an innovative, unique space for their child.”
She said they’re excited to offer the Lilypad Play Center to the community and work with the youngest in the community and their families.
Lisa O’Neill, Lake City Bank executive vice president and chief financial officer and YMCA Board of Directors chair, said it was great to see so many of their partners in the room for the ceremony.
“Because I think that’s how things happen around here: We all come together to work together. And it’s so fun to work with Jim and to follow his vision,” O’Neill said. “This is particularly meaningful to me because I love babies. I love coffee. And I just love work, too. It’s great to see us come together to deliver something for the littlest of our communities, their parents, their caregivers and something innovative.”
Playcenter hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m.; closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
The River Coffee hours are Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 1 p .m. and 4 to 7 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon and closed Sunday.
For more information about reservations, hours and Playcenter guidelines, visit kcymca.org or call 574-269-9622.
