A proposed interactive play space for children in Merced is one step closer to coming into fruition, thanks to a $150,000 matching grant from the Central Valley Opportunity Fund.
The ‘Our City’ Outdoor Exhibit at the Kids Discovery Station, 350 W. Yosemite Ave. in Merced, will be an outdoor play space to educate children about city functions and professions. It will also serve as a venue for family events and recreation.
“We envision this outdoor playspace as a miniature city run by children,” Mayya Tokman, Kids Discovery Station executive director, said in a news release.
“Whether taking on the role of a firefighter or a police officer, pretending to run an election from a city hall, or riding a tricycle while obeying posted traffic signs, kids will have an opportunity to play and to learn about what makes a city work.”
Continued fundraising, exhibit design, construction and installation will take place over the next 12 to 18 months, the release said.
Central Valley Opportunity Fund previously supported the Kids Discovery Station in 2021 with operational startup funding and, again, in 2022 for the first phase of the outdoor exhibit.
In addition to expanded recreational opportunities for families, the exhibit will double field trip capacity to more than 100 children and increase accessibility.
The project was made possible through partnerships with First 5 Merced County, City of Merced and Dignity Health.