Springfield awakens to creative play

Susan Clause remembers using a strange chant to awaken her young son from his slumber: erg-A-doo, erg-A-doo, erg-A-doo. These memorable words resonated with Clause and her husband, Stephen Briggs, 15 years ago when they were searching for a name for their new educational resource store. The name stuck. ErgAdoo, just off South Grand Avenue at 1320 South State, is now a well-known destination for educators and other individuals who need supplies and value creative ways to learn. Now, the family that brought ErgAdoo to Springfield is introducing a doozy of an idea about play. 

There are many reasons to admire the new ErgAdoozy Creative Play Center, located right behind ErgAdoo on State Street. First, it demonstrates the creative reuse of a building. Partially housed in a structure that last year contained the offices of Illinois Times, ErgAdoozy demonstrates how a building can be repurposed and reimagined in a way that adds value to a community. Second, it represents good business sense. It is clear that the Internet has changed the face of retail and that shrinking educational budgets have strained and even closed similar stores throughout central Illinois. That is not the case here. Yes, ErgAdoozy is a play center but it is also a showcase that allows kids to try out the resources that are sold in another part of the building. Here our eyes are opened to see an idea that is not only good for one business but also good for many families. ErgAdoozy is an opportunity to awaken at a time when the flat and fast world we live in is seemingly reducing the number of places where families play together. 

Bring your socks (required) and you can spend hours (some have spent an entire day) enjoying the 10 stations that make up an imaginative play area on the first floor. From pint-sized tools and figurine animals to magnetic blocks and balance boards, the room is filled with fun and educational toys. Right around the corner is a magnificent climber that will take you five levels up. You can come down the conventional way or you can speed things up by selecting one of the three different slides. The giant assemblage of padded rods and plates feels sturdy and is filled with rollers and ball swings that make the most of each level. Located beneath the climbing area is a circular track that guides three hand-powered train cars, which have become a popular way to use up any energy that kids manage to reserve. Four cameras connected to two monitors help adults keep track of little climbers.

Those who have been waking up for less than a year are always admitted for free. The cost for youth between the years of 1 and 12 is $8 between Monday and Friday and $10 on Saturday and Sunday. You pay once and play all day. You can arrive in the morning, leave for lunch, a nap, or to run errands and return in the afternoon. Individuals 18 years and over are admitted for free when accompanying a child. ErgAdoozy is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m., from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and from noon until 6 p.m. on Sundays. 

Beyond the terrific toys and a creative climber, ErgAdoozy offers three party rooms that can be reserved for birthdays and other celebrations. Packages have been created to make it easy and keep it fun. Two membership options enable those who want to frequently visit ErgAdoozy to make a reasonable investment that will lower the overall entrance fee over a period of 6 or 12 months. Group discount rates are available upon request, and you can call ErgAdoozy at 544-9477 for more information. 

Justin Blandford lives in Springfield
with his wife, Holly Rae, and their daughter, Greta.

This article appears in Capital City Parent October 2013.