Aug. 2, 2023

A Harrisburg indoor sand and sensory park has added what its owner says is the area’s first indoor corn pit.

The Sandlot at 305 W. Willow St. often switches its play area themes, and this one made sense to owner Jaclyn Small.

Small swapped out a splash room with corn from her parents’ farm.

“We previously had a little corn area, basically a box, and we couldn’t keep kids out of it,” she said. “Too many of them would pile in there.”

So it was time for a change.

It’s mainly just corn, tools to dig, a duck pond and space for imagination in this newly updated area.

The Sandlot has four different zones, each designed to engage with children in different ways. Small said she updates each zone frequently with a different theme for the month or season.

“Like right now, the sandpit is space theme; we’ll switch it again this winter,” Small said. “We let the kids submit entries. I’m hearing the kids have been requesting a dino park next.”

Areas within the business include:

• The Sandpit: “The only indoor sandpit you will find throughout the United States with over 16 tons of sand,” Small said.
• Physical play:  This is the sensory play zone with a rotation of swings, climbing equipment, slides and more. ​
• Imaginary play: There are pretend play structures and props “to ignite all the sensory play,” Small said.
• Corn pit: It is farm themed currently with a red barn, scarecrow and sunflowers. It will continue to switch themes like the other zones.

The Sandlot has both public and private play times. See here.

The cost for public play is $12 for children age 2 and older. The price for those younger than 2 is $5. There are seasonal passes for unlimited public play; the fall pass is good from Labor Day through Nov 1.

“This fall, we will have different fall activities like fall festivals, different Halloween events and vendor opportunities and, of course, preschool,” Small said.

As summer draws to an end, Small said she’s gearing up for the school year. The Sandlot has two preschool programs and a kindergarten prep program.

There are a few spots available still, Small said.