A new indoor play space in Bremerton is aiming to provide families with children of all abilities a safe, inclusive place to play, especially during the region’s long rainy season.
Adventure Alley, opening later this year on Sheridan Road, is being developed by Emily Strafaci, a local mother of three, and her husband, Bryan Strafaci. The space will include a sensory-friendly room, a gated area for infants, and a “Tiny Town” with wide entrances to accommodate children with different needs.
“My own kids were my biggest inspiration in opening Adventure Alley,” Emily said. “Living here in Washington, it’s hard to find a space to go to with all three of them where I feel like I know that they’re safe and I can relax and enjoy my time with them.”
Emily, who recently graduated from nursing school, said her professional experience reinforced the need for inclusive play spaces. “In that role as a nurse, I have seen needs for people to have that inclusivity,” she said. “In addition to having a quieter room with dimmer lights, we also are building out our Tiny Town with a wide open entry so that anyone can be able to fit in there. We even have people messaging us with their own ideas, like having a sort of changing area for bigger kiddos that won’t fit on an infant changing table. We just want a space for anybody who wants to be seen out in these play spaces.”
The sensory room will include tactile toys, a projector for visual stimulation, dim lighting, and a rocking chair for children who seek physical movement. “We’re adding a lot of the five senses for kids to enjoy in there,” Emily said.
Adventure Alley will charge for open play and offer rental rooms for birthday parties and community gatherings. Emily said she is trying to keep prices affordable. “When I go places with my kids, I want to be able to pay for it, but then also know that I can still do other stuff within that month,” she said.
The space is designed with level-grounded structures to help parents supervise multiple children more easily. “Having another space here for younger kiddos or parents or caregivers in my situation — where it’s kinda harder to keep an eye on them while they climb up these stories — was really important,” she said.
Emily said starting the business has come with challenges. “I just graduated nursing school, and I have no idea what I’m doing, and I’m doing a lot of learning throughout the process and a lot of research,” she said. “The biggest challenge so far has been challenging that fear and unknown that I have.”
Community response has been positive. “Before I went ahead and opened my LLC, I reached out to the Kitsap parenting group and asked them what kinds of things they’ve been looking for in these spaces. I’ve gotten a lot of good feedback. I’ve gotten a lot of excitement,” Emily said.
Construction is underway, and final inspections, including occupancy permits and fire marshal approval, must be completed before opening. “We hope to be done building and painting and getting everything ready within the month,” Emily said.
Looking ahead, Emily hopes the space will leave a lasting impression on families. “I really want kids to come in and explore and I want parents to feel welcome,” she said.
