“Child’s play” may sound innocuous, but play is essential to how children grow, learn, and interact with the world. Children approach any play space with gusto, equal parts Christopher Columbus and Walt Disney, using movement and imagination to explore, test boundaries, and engage with their surroundings.

Well-designed recreational spaces recognize this instinct. When play environments are created with intention, they support child development through purpose-built layouts that reflect how children actually move, climb, crawl, balance, and imagine. Soft Play® experiences are designed around this reality, blending creativity, physical activity, and immersive design into spaces that invite meaningful play.

May Recreation offers commercial-grade park and playground equipment throughout the greater Houston area, including Soft Play® experiences that enrich both indoor and outdoor environments. Indoors, Soft Play® systems enhance spaces such as shopping malls, doctors’ offices, restaurants, and museums. Outdoors, they bring added value to schools, community parks, faith-based organizations, hotels, and waterparks.

“Soft Play® experiences consistently drive foot traffic and increase dwell time,” said May Recreation owner Randy May. “Just as importantly, they create immersive, engaging environments that support child development while sparking joy and inspiring young imaginations.”

What is the “Soft Play® Experience"?

Soft Play® is not a “new kid” in the playground design world. The company has been a global leader in commercial play experiences for more than three decades, creating environments that go far beyond traditional playground equipment.

“We create innovative, cutting edge, and fully immersive play experiences,” Soft Play® explains. Through superior craftsmanship and unmatched creativity, these environments transform play into the main attraction.

A look through the Soft Play® catalogue quickly reinforces this philosophy. The emphasis is not on individual components, but on the overall experience. Each project is thoughtfully designed to engage children physically and imaginatively, encouraging exploration, movement, and creative discovery within a cohesive, story-driven space.

With the expertise of May Recreation, Soft Play® experiences can transform ordinary indoor and outdoor spaces into family-friendly destinations that support child development while delivering lasting recreational value.

How Soft Play® Supports Child Development Through Recreation

In Soft Play® environments, play is intentionally framed as a way to engage imagination, encourage exploration, and create memorable experiences. Rather than focusing on a single type of activity, Soft Play® designs bring together multiple forms of engagement within one cohesive play space.

Soft Play® experiences are fully immersive, blending:

· Physical activity: Such as climbing, crawling, balancing, and sliding.

· Creative storytelling: Supported through themed environments and imaginative design.

· Sensory engagement: Including textures, colors, and spatial variety.

Playgrounds that encourage this combination support whole-child development by addressing physical, social, and cognitive growth simultaneously. Children build strength and coordination through movement, practice communication and cooperation through shared play, and develop problem-solving skills as they explore and navigate the environment.

These rich, varied experiences also keep families engaged. When children remain interested and challenged, parents are more likely to stay longer and return often. As a result, venues that incorporate Soft Play® experiences benefit from:

· Increased dwell time.

· Repeat visits from families.

· Year-round attraction, particularly for indoor play environments during inclement weather.

Themed Experiences that Put a Smile on Kids Faces

Soft Play® themed environments are built around one core idea: play should tell a story. Each experience is custom designed using a blend of industrial design, graphic and interior design, and detailed 3D sculpting and illustration. The result is not a collection of isolated play components, but a cohesive environment that invites children to explore, imagine, and discover.

That approach pays off the moment kids enter the space. Whether they are exploring outer space, stepping into a prehistoric world, or navigating a fantasy landscape, Soft Play® themed experiences spark curiosity and joy while encouraging movement and interaction. These environments transform recreation into adventure, creating memorable moments that keep children engaged and smiling.

With more than 40,000 completed projects worldwide, Soft Play® has demonstrated the ability to deliver custom experiences at nearly any budget or scale. A few standout examples include:

· Kennedy Space Center (Merritt Island, FL) “Planet Play”: A 6,000-square-foot theater was transformed into Planet Play, a multi-story, fully immersive play experience at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Children explore the solar system through interactive games, physical challenges, artistic sculptures, and themed play elements that blend education with active recreation.

· Cherry Creek Mall (Denver, CO) “Dinosaur Gulch”: This dinosaur-themed play area was developed in collaboration with paleontologists and curators from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The dinosaurs and surrounding environment are not only kid-friendly, but rooted in scientific accuracy, creating a playful yet educational experience inside a busy retail setting.

· Woodland Mall (Grand Rapids, MI) “Monster Play”: Designed for toddlers and early elementary-age children, this monster-themed play space features a tower and soft-sculpted elements that encourage safe, imaginative play. Integrated seating allows caregivers to relax nearby, showing how Soft Play® designs consider the entire family experience.

· Trailwinds Recreation Center (Thornton, CO) “Dinosaur Theme”: This project demonstrates how Soft Play® can deliver dramatic visual impact, including a 16-foot-tall triceratops skeleton that serves as a striking focal point and an invitation to explore.

· Center of Recreation Excellence (Hobbs, NM) “Non-Belayed Adventure Course”: Pushing the boundaries of indoor recreation, this adventure system features three 38-foot-tall towers, enclosed skyways, a climbing maze, stainless steel spiral slides, and a dedicated toddler play area. Designed to accommodate nearly 300 children at once, it highlights Soft Play®’s ability to scale experiences for large, high-energy venues.

Beyond themed playgrounds, Soft Play® works with clients on a wide range of customized experiences, from gamified environments and digital play elements to water features and brand-driven experiences. This flexibility allows each project to reflect the goals, audience, and identity of the space it serves.

Bringing Soft Play® Experiences to Life with May Recreation

From immersive, themed environments to large-scale adventure systems, Soft Play® experiences show what is possible when recreation is designed with imagination and purpose. These custom play spaces support child development, encourage exploration, and turn ordinary locations into destinations families return to again and again.

At May Recreation, we partner with Soft Play® to help communities, schools, and organizations bring these experiences to life. To explore what a custom Soft Play® environment could look like for your space, contact May Recreation to start the conversation.