Oct. 25, 2024

A sensory play park that includes sand play is moving from Harrisburg to Sioux Falls.

Jaciel Small started the business in late 2020 as The Sandlot, offering a giant indoor sandbox plus other play activities.

In March, she rebranded as Sensory Studio and began partnering with Functional Kids Pediatric Therapy in Sioux Falls. Now, the two businesses are combining to share a new building at 3000 E. Jackson St., near 69th Street and Southeastern Avenue

“It will be half Sensory Studio and half the clinic side,” Small said. “Space-wise, we’re not looking to grow the gym a ton. It will be laid out a little different, and we’ll be able to customize it a little more to our needs. We kind of get a blank slate and get to create it in a way that’s usable for us and for families.”

The space will still include sand, based on strong demand from families, she said.

It will be a “white beach and therapeutic sand,” Small said. “It will be an awesome addition and something you can’t find anywhere around here and hopefully not as messy. It’s definitely fine with a powdery feel, but it’s just a great texture.”

In addition to the sand pit, there will be “lots of climbing opportunities, slides, swings, monkey bars and things like that to move all their muscles,” Small added.

There’s also an arts and crafts area and an imaginary play zone “where kids can do different imaginary and dramatic play,” she continued. “They love the firehouse station and little grocery store, so that will be re-created to make it even better.”

The plan is to continue to hold programs at 305 W. Willow St. in Harrisburg through Nov. 12 and then shift to the Sioux Falls location.

“It’s right down the road, and we know Sioux Falls and Harrisburg are closer and closer together, so it’s not a far jump,” Small said. “We see a lot of families from north of Sioux Falls, like Dell Rapids and Hartford areas, so hopefully for some of those families, it’s a little easier and a few less miles.”

Much of Sensory Studio will be rented for private groups of family and friends, and also shared with Functional Kids Pediatric Therapy for their patients. There will be public times Fridays and Saturdays and an opportunity to book parties.

“In the partnership with Functional Kids, we can offer more programs and classes and education and therapeutic opportunities and things along those lines,” Small added.