Get To Know Us
Kids Play In The Quay is a passion project brought together by longtime best friends Anne White and Rebecca Aspell (aka Mama A and Mama B). Originally it started as a “why not”, when we found ourselves driving 30-45 minutes or more to find indoor play spaces for our young children, wishing that there were options closer to home. At some point it became a small obsession, as we felt that we could bring something MORE to our community. We wanted somewhere safe and engaging for our children to play, but we also wanted to feel supported as parents as well. Oftentimes being a parent of small children can feel isolating, and there are a lot of complications that can lead parents and caretakers to feel even more unsupported. So we made this part of our mission, too, making Kids Play In The Quay “for kids, for parents, for community”.
In late 2019, we finally started gaining enough traction that it looked like we were truly going to make our dream come true. After a small fundraiser and talking to a few potential partners, we were looking at leases and were ready to make things happen. And then…
The COVID-19 pandemic felt like it came out of nowhere. It devastated so many in our community and around the world, we honestly consider ourselves lucky. Despite losing a painful amount of money and all of our momentum, we were able to hang on to our dream, and were even able to help people in our community. Over the course of 2020, we were lucky enough to participate in programs to help feed children in our community, cook and distribute meals for the housing insecure, we collected toys and food for local drives, purchased diapers, formula, and groceries for people that reached out to us. It felt good to be of use, even when everything felt impossible and bleak. Even if it seemed like Kids Play In The Quay would never truly be open, we were living our dream, giving back to the community in any small way possible. Truth be told, holding on to this dream is what got us through, because no matter what the pandemic took away from us (family, friends, jobs, sanity) we had built a community and found a way to use it for good.
While the pandemic isn’t quite over yet, there is a light at the end of the tunnel FINALLY. Kids Play In the Quay was never far from our hearts or minds, and we spent the last year and a half dreaming and scheming and planning for a better, brighter future where we could make this dream a reality. Our community purpose has only grown stronger, and we have only gotten more determined and excited for all of the good we plan to do.
Due to everything we lost over the pandemic, we are starting from a harder place, but we are still resolved to make this happen in any way possible. If anything, we are more determined. So you might see Mama A and Mama B out thumping the pavement, working odd jobs, throwing more than a few fundraisers, and doing absolutely anything it takes to bring Kids Play In The Quay to our community. You can help us by sharing our story, coming to our events, giving if you are willing and able, or even just introducing yourselves. Because we can’t wait to know you, we can’t wait to serve you, and we can’t wait to do some good together. For kids, for parents, and for community.
If you’d like to contribute to help bring Kids Play In The Quay to our community, you can donate via
Venmo: @kidsplayinthequay or via PayPal: becca@kidsplayinthequay.com