Business & Tech

New Kids Play Area for Westfield Annapolis Mall

The new play land is near Pottery Barn and was welcomed by many parents on hand for the mall's Family Fun Day.

Many of the parents packed into the open court outside Pottery Barn in Westfield Annapolis mall said the new play area is a welcome addition.

Moms and nannies herding teetering toddlers while pushing overpacked double strollers mostly offered a quick laugh and quickly praised having another area to let their little ones burn off some energy.

On Wednesday, Sneaks from the Anne Arundel County Library did the honors and cut the ribbon on the fresh, new play area. The mall's other play area is outside of JCPenney.

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“This is the first step in revitalizing this area of the mall,” said Christi Wallace, Westfield’s marketing director. “We want to create not only a great place to shop, but a great experience for the whole family.”

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held during the mall’s twice-monthly Family Fun Days. The event, held the first and third Wednesday of each month, regularly draws about 250 people, Wallace said.

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“We really are that ‘stroller-mom’ mall,” she said. “We’re looking at what will really make not only this area, but the whole mall, a family destination, allow families to be able to spend their whole afternoon here.”

Although she said at this point she can’t discuss details, Wallace said the mall is planning several other amenity upgrades for the wing of the mall where the new play area is.

For now, the new play area is a site for sore eyes for some moms.

“It’s more than they have at the other one,” said Sarah Pellito of Edgewater. “That one gets really crowded and it gets tough for the little ones to play.”

Her son Rocco, 2 ½, with fresh face paint, deemed the crowd Wednesday a bit too much for his liking, and opted out of playing in the new play land.

But that didn’t stop him from having fun, running around the court.

Shannon Morgan of Annapolis, enjoying the afternoon with her husband Justin Morgan and their three kids—Bella, 3, Joe, 2 and Mary, 5 months.

She said she likes the design of the new play land, compared to the other one near JCPenney.

“It’s more enclosed than the other one,” Shannon Morgan said. “You can relax a little bit and know they’re not going to walk away.”

Pellito said visiting the mall is a good way to spend the afternoon. The kids get a chance play and burn off some steam, ride the train, and mom has a chance to stop by a few stores and grab some things she may need.

Then it’s lunch in the food court and time to head home.

She said more family-centered activities and attractions would be a good thing for the mall.

“The more they add, the more people will come,” she said.


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