Kids' Play Space Opening Upper East Side Location

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — A children's play space founded by veterans of the city's fanciest restaurants is on its way to the Upper East Side.

Union Square Play plans to open its second-ever venue in May at 245 East 84th St., just west of Second Avenue. Since its inception, the kids' club has been based, as the name suggests, downtown on East 11th Street.

The company was conceived in 2018 by a three-parent team who sensed a need for a "supportive community and play space that put parents and their children first," according to an announcement.

Founders included Anthony Rudolf, a former general manager at Per Se and executive in the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group; and Sandra Di Capua, a former employee of Eleven Madison Park. A third co-founder, Jennie Monness, is a parenting expert with a background in early childhood education.

With a focus on children under 5, Union Square Play emphasizes "open-ended, imaginative" activities that encourage kids to socialize and explore, according to a news release.

Classes include "Let's Make a Mess," which gives kids the chance to play with water, dough and kinetic sand in order to "finally make the gigantic mess they’ve dreamed about."

The early-May opening will begin with limited programming for a few weeks as services ramp up, according to organizers.

Class bookings for the Upper East Side location will open soon on Union Square Play's website.