Like many in the city, the southeast branch fosters a free in-house program called the Play Zone. On Wednesday mornings and alternating Thursday evenings, kids run, romp and wreak creative havoc as parents and care-providers join the play session or connect with other families. The Play Zone moves outdoors this summer to Van Cleve Park. Tripeny praised the program for helping his son learn balance, social skills and visual and musical awareness. If you didn't realize all that was going on, you'd think he was just playing childish games.
Child play has adult sway, however.
The youth organization's community focus recently attracted national and international attention. The city project has gained model status through its interaction with a variety of public and private groups, said Program Director Tene' Jones. For example, Way to Grow worked with city components such as the school board and Hennepin County to eliminate excess immunization for children, Jones said. Another reason for the program's success is that city branches are rooted in their respected communities. And diversified funding allows for diversified programming, Jones added.