NW Kids Club Forced to Close Doors by End of June

An important facility for local kids will close and they need the community's help to relocate.

Please visit nwkidsclub.net to learn more, and to assist.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The NW Kids Club, otherwise known as the Indoor Playground, has been a wonderful asset to children and parents in the Salem-Keizer area for three years now. On May 24th Elizabeth (Ms. Lu) McDonough received a letter from their landlord (The Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 290) that reads as such;

Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 290 Training Center Letter to NW Kids Club on May 24th

"NW Kids Club which expires July 31, 2010. The Trust has decided to expand our training facility in the foreseeable future.

May 24, 2010

NW Kids Club Elizabeth McDonough Salem, Oregon

RE: Lease Non-Renewal

Dear Elizabeth,

United Association Local 290 Apprenticeship and Journeymen Training Trust Fund has decided not to renew the lease with NW Kids Club which expires July 31, 2010. The Trust has decided to expand our training facility in the foreseeable future.

Sincerely,
Michael Pollock
Director of Training
20220 SW Teton Ave, Tualatin, OR 97062

Sincerely,
Director of Training
20220 SW Teton Ave, Tualatin, OR 97062”

This gives the NW Kids Club 6o days to vacate the building. The last business day for the NW Kids Club has been set as June 30th 2010.

For those of you who do not know, the Indoor Playground is a 7,000 square foot building that houses a sandbox, toddler area, climbing house with a slide, a bounce house, dress up area, lunch area and also provides pre-school for children ages 3-5. It is the ONLY business of it’s kind in the Salem-Keizer area. They also hold events and birthday parties.

This situation happened after Ms. Lu (Elizabeth McDonough) spoke with her landlord in February of 2010 to notify them that she was planning on acquiring state licensing to also provide day care to children under 3.

The Union hoed and hummed on this until May 17th when Ms. Lu had a conversation with them regarding the building. The conversation went as follows, “You are not approved to do the pre-school but we will not be renewing you’re lease. You will have to be out by July 31st.” They refused to give the owners more time to find a suitable building and move their business.

This decision from the Union is concrete. So, now the issue remains….What are they going to do? Well, I attended a brainstorming session this evening to help come up with ideas. There were many dedicated customers (lovingly referred to as friends) who are willing to help with transportation of toys and equipment, paint, build, whatever they can do. The most pressing issue is finding a building.

Elizabeth McDonough

They need a building that is AT LEAST 5,000 square feet and with the proper zoning to allow for a child care, amusement park and restaurant.

They also need a landlord who is willing to work with them over to first few months on rent while they get everything ready for the children to return. You see, if there are no children coming in there is no income coming in. Therefore they cannot pay their rent.

At this meeting was a commercial real estate agent who is helping to locate an adequate building. What would help the most is support from the community! They need donations of both time and money! They need people to stand up and say, “Our kids NEED this playground!”

In an area that sees rain at least 8 months of the year this business is one of the only things keeping a lot of parents and children sane!

If you would like to contact Elizabeth or Geoff McDonough, owners or the NW Kids Club, either to give your support or to inquire as to how make financial donations please contact them by e-mail at: Nwkidsclub@comcast.net

They also have a webpage which is: nwkidsclub.net

And a face book page at: facebook.com/#!/pages/Salem-OR/NW-Kids-Club-Salem-Oregon-INDOOR-PLAYGROUND-Park/144340881074?ajaxpipe=1&__a=12