Come play with us!
Next Upcoming Play Date
April 23-24, 2021
Saturday: 10:00AM-2:00PM;
5:30PM-7:30PM
Lakeview Wesleyan Church
5316 S. Western Ave.
Marion, IN 46953

Cardboard City
Cardboard City is a land of engineering where you test the limits of cardboard and your imagination. With child-safe tools like screw drivers and saws, you are invited to build a recycled land of tunnels, rockets, houses, and ships!

Imagination Playground
Traditional playgrounds consist primarily of fixed equipment, such as slides, monkey bars and teeter-totters, all of which focus on developing children’s gross motor skills. Imagination Playground is made up of what experts call “loose parts” that prompt children to transform their environment and create a play space of their own.

Snug Play
Large colorful structures that you can roll, rock, climb, and jump on greet you as you enter WonderSpace. These large pieces encourage child directed play and cooperation as kids work together to build, design, and remodel their own obstacle courses and play spaces.

High Flyers
High Flyers is an interactive play experience that involves several different stations. Children and adults get to experience the fun and wonder of air movement and flying through the use of balls, scarves, and by creating your own paper airplanes.
who and what?
About us
There are many benefits for our community to have access to indoor play facilities.
Health - According to National Centers for Environmental Information, Grant County is cold, snowy, and rainy for eight months out of the year. In this environment, physical play declines and sedentary lifestyle habits form. WonderSpace aims to be intentional about development and challenging a child's cognitive, physical, emotional, and social health. This is why we are pursuing open ended play materials which results in children bringing meaning to the equipment through their creativity and exploration.
Quality of life - The Indiana Economic Digest published in February of 2018 that Grant County ranks 87 out of 92 Indiana counties for mortality (length of life), and 91 out of 92 in morbidity (quality of life). Experts indicate that a lack of quality play opportunities is one of the factors to be considered. Research shows that, while in the state of play, oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine are all present – which are powerful feel-good hormones.
Diverse interaction - Research shows that places of play often become a common place for families of diverse backgrounds to make contact and learn to trust each other. By providing mobile play pop-up opportunities and eventually building a permanent indoor play space, WonderSpace seeks to bring diverse groups together in play and exploration. Contact us to find out more about our special needs accommodations to ensure that every child can play in a meaningful way.
Education - Wonderspace seeks to provide affordable access to the Imagination Playground, snug play, and other mobile play equipment to support the learning and development of our community. We aim to inspire children with activities that promote healthy brain activity and that encourage exploration for a lifetime of learning.
Why?
Our mission
WonderSpace is a ministry of local churches working together to improve the physical, social, educational, and mental health of children and families in Grant County
When?
Upcoming events
September 16-19
Saturday: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Week of Play
Matter Park in Marion, IN
November 13-14, 2020
Saturday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Grace Community Church
1810 E Bradford Pike, Marion, IN 46952
January 9, 2021
Converse Church of the Christ
301 E Wabash Street, Converse, IN 46919
January 23, 2021
St Paul Missionary Baptist Church
1204 W 14th St, Marion, IN 46953
February 19-20, 2021
Saturday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Pierce United Methodist Church
201 N. 8th Street, Upland, IN 46989
March 19-20, 2021
Saturday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Hanfield United Methodist Church
101 N 400 E, Marion, IN 46952
April 23-24, 2021
Saturday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Lakeview Wesleyan Church
5316 S Western Ave, Marion, IN 46953
May 15, 2021
Mt Olive United Methodist Church
2015 County Rd 300 W, Marion, IN 46952
"The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct."
–Carl Jung
Contact Us
200 E 38th Street
Marion, IN 46953
“Cardboard City was a huge hit! The kid-friendly tools were terrific!” ~ Joy Elzinga