Happy Hangout Westside

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Who is the founder of this project?
• Hi! It's me! My name is Tricia and I am a proud west sider, mom of two girls, wife, foster parent, church goer, and I feel passionately about supporting women and families. I never felt more alone than when I was struggling through being a new mom and everyone else seemed to have things figured out. I don't want moms to get bogged down in loneliness, so using this space for building community is really important to me. Not to mention, I selfishly wanted a place that I would love to take my kids to play that wasn't an hour long round-trip!
• What are you doing about COVID-19?
• Great question! We will be operating with limited capacity as long as it is required to do so. This may mean that parties may have fewer guests...but we are still about the fun! We were already committed to regular cleaning and sanitation (kids are germ factories after all!), but now we are adding a few more sanitation rotations, removing smaller toys that might end up in mouths, doing health checks, and implementing a reservation system to allow us to better manage crowds. 
• When will Happy Hangout be open?
• We plan on being open end of year 2020 or first week in January 2021. We will keep all our backers updated as construction progresses and we know a better estimate.
• How can I get more involved in this project?
• A few different ways! We will be hiring employees in November, so if you love kids and would like a flexible fun job, stay tuned. We are also still looking for larger investors if you are really passionate about this vision. And don't forget to follow us on social media! We will be posting regular updates there as we move through this process! (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter)
• What will the playground look like?
• Right now we are keeping our specific design under wraps, but we can tell you that it will be floor-to-ceiling and made just for us! Check out our Facebook page for some cool sneak peaks!
• What ages will this be for?
• We hope to serve kids ages 0-12. Although most areas will be more entertaining to the "Under 9" crowd, older siblings will still be able to find something that engages their minds and bodies. We will also have a special play area for those under 2 to enjoy. 
• What about those party rooms?
• We will have 2 of them! There will be varying party packages at different price points for whatever the occasion! We even have an option that allows you to have the place all to yourself! We also will offer fundraiser options for local schools and non-profits.
• How will this benefit other members of the community?
• We will have 2 party rooms that will not be in use all the time. We hope that the community will use these as meeting spaces, classroom spaces, and even for small business events. Craft pop-up shops, prenatal yoga, and post-partum support groups are just a few of our dreams! (If you are interested in our space, please keep in touch!!)
• Will the playground be clean?
• Yes!! As a mom I know how important it is to keep a place like this as germ-free as possible. Our playground will have an anti-microbial coating that gets reapplied quarterly. We will also have hand sanitizer stations and employees wiping down and spraying surfaces regularly.
• Is this facility going to be sensory friendly?
• We sure hope so! We are working with members of the community on ways to best serve these kids and families. We hope to eventually utilize one of the party rooms as a sensory-friendly room on weekdays; this will include dimmed lighting, white noise, comfy seating, etc. The ground level of our playground will also be handicapped accessible.
• Do adults have to pay admission or buy memberships?
• Nope. Since this is mostly a place for kids, only the kids will have to pay to play. Each child will need an adult with them to sign them in and be sure their waivers are up to date. After that, adults are free to follow their children into the play area, or simply watch from the parent seating area. 
• Why are you crowdfunding?
• First of all, I can't afford this dream all on my own! Secondly, women entrepreneurs face an up hill battle in gaining funding for their start-ups. Most of the bankers and investors that handle seed money are men, and they are less likely to fund a women-headed business. Women-owned businesses are only receiving 2.2% of the total venture capital invested per year. This funding round isn't a means of raising a million dollars, but simply proving to investors how many families are willing to literally "put their money where their mouth is". Once they can see how many potential customers are fired up, they will be more willing to throw in their support. 
• Where exactly will this be located?
• It will be at 2041 Anderson Ferry, in the plaza with Group Health Western Hills and between ABC Pediatric Therapy and Clarkson Eye care. 
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• Thanks so much for your support!!!