The indoor playground at First Christian Church in Champaign gives kids the opportunity to slide, twirl and climb
We love our local parks in Champaign-Urbana but sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate. Maybe you’re a parent that just doesn’t want to deal with the mud for a day and would rather have a playspace with walls for a while. Or perhaps you’re a caregiver that also goes to school and needs a safe place for kids to play while you get some reading done. There are several reasons you could visit the indoor playground at First Christian Church in Champaign.
The playground is a great space with a cushioned play-approved floor throughout the fenced-in area. Outside the playground, you’ll find a walking track wide enough to push two strollers side by side. We don’t normally see runners on this track; it’s more of a place to visit for a brisk or casual walk.
You’ll also see a pretty large seating area with tables and chairs. People bring in their own coolers and bags to have lunch (or large snacks) at the playground. We’ve also seen homeschool families set up for an extended visit, making this space a great fit for many families with varying needs.
Many toddler-friendly spots are located throughout the playground but of course you’ll want to keep an eye on them around the big play structure. They can scale the climbing stairs pretty quickly and there’s a fire pole, along with some pretty steep slides and assorted climbing structures with a several foot drop off as part of the playground.
There’s also a fun spinning ride (technically called a playground carousel, we believe) that is a lot of fun for the older kids but definitely a potential danger for the littles. All that to be said, we recommend you stick close to your younger kids at the indoor playground but older kids can run and play safely while you sit down and watch from a distance or walk laps on the track.
Parents can meet up with other parents while at the indoor playground — especially during those terribly long winter months — and have playdates with other families. A particularly popular spot for the youngest playground visitors are the duplo stations that they sit in, located around the perimeter of the playground but still inside the fenced area.
Indoor Playground FAQs
- The indoor playground is typically open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Check the website for updates to this schedule. It is closed major holidays and anytime school is closed for weather reasons.
- There’s free wi-fi. Just in case you need to get some work done.
- The playground is completely free.
- While attached to the First Christian Church in Champaign, it has a separate entrance from the church. Just follow the signs (and the minivans).
