Children and Parents Enjoy Hingham's New Indoor Playground

Over a hundred Hingham parents, caregivers and babysitters brought their young ones to play in Hingham’s only public indoor winter playground at the at the Hingham Recreation Center on Wednesday afternoon.

Children and parents got to test the new play area for three hours and were then required to fill out a survey to help the Rec. Department  make improvements before its official opening on January 2. 

Director of Recreation Mark Thorell said Wednesday’s trial was a huge success.

“I can’t think of any other place in Hingham that has the open drop-in play atmosphere like this,” Thorell said.  “The people who enjoy playgrounds in the nice weather now have a place to come when the weather is not so good.” 

The playground, which is only for children ages 5 and under, will include a full area of climbing structures, ride-on toys and trikes, soft balls for kicking and chasing, a full-sized bouncy house, and an entire area of soft mats and climbing toys for babies which was paid for with proceeds from the Hingham Fourth of July Road Race.

Thorell said parents and caregivers are required to accompany their children at the play center and their will be also be a staff on site making sure the kids follow the proper rules.  Thorell also ensured parents that the playground would be sanitized everyday to avoid disease and germs from spreading

On Wednesday Hingham parents such Sinead Duffy were very impressed with what the playground had to offer.

“You need something like this for the winter,” Duffy said .  “There are very few options around here and some of the other options are a lot more expensive… you need somewhere in the afternoon to bring the kids.”

Hingham mom Marta Noble was also a fan of the new recreation area.

“You need something like this to get your kids out and using energy.”

Noble’s two children, Vienna (age 2) and Marta (10 months) had smiles on their faces as the jumped on the bouncy house and were pushed on the tricycles. 

The play center will be open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. beginning January 2. Admission is $5 per child.