Indoor playgrounds proving popular in Windsor

It never rains. Sunscreen isn't needed. And the landingsare almost always soft.

Indoor playgrounds are cropping up all around Windsor, and proving popular. There are approximately six currently operating in the city.

"When the weather's not nice, there isn't much to do in Windsor. My kids love it here," said Nina Dafre, a mother of four of who brought her kids to MonkeyTown on Tuesday.

MonkeyTown is one of the oldest private indoor playgrounds in Windsor. It opened its doors in 2008.

"Outdoor playgrounds have their place too, of course, but we wanted to do something different and something fun," said owner Lawrence Jeun.

Across town, at Yoyo's, kids from the U.S. came to spend part of their spring break indoors. For parentBob Trudell, outdoor playgrounds are now out of the question.

"Outdoors, we find it not quite as clean. Sometimes I find broken glass. Its just not as clean as Id like itd to be," Trudell said.

It never rains inside

He and Dafre both said the controlled climate is a big reason they frequent the indoor playgrounds.

"All year round, its a good place to come," Trudell said.

Dafre said Windsor's sometimes oppressive heat is enough tokeep her kids playing inside.

Malek Chaouali opened YoYo's three years ago.

"The safety and the cleanliness; those are the two major points on our side," Chaouali said of her padded and frequently inspected equipment.

It's a similar situation at MonkeyTown.

"As much as we concentrate on fun, safety is our main concern. We choose pieces very carefully," Jeun said.

Parents pay anywhere between $6 and $8 atthe indoor playgrounds, which have washrooms and snack bars.

Jeun has seen competitors come and go since he opened. Next month, a new indoor gym is opening in Tecumseh, in the same location as another one closed in January. He and Chaouali said there is plenty of room everyone.

"After 3 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays, its a zoo here," Chaouali said.