The "Gondola Pre-Toddler Playground" is officially open at the Novato Youth Center! Present at the ribbon cutting was Kathy Gondola and her family, in addition to Novato City Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem Josh Fryday among volunteers, staff and children served at the Center.
This community project was made possible by 25 generous donors who joined hands to raise $60,000 to build this enrichment playground. Generous donors included 20 individuals, County of Marin, HEAL grant (Healthy Eating Active Living) from the Marin Community Foundation's Buck Family Fund, Peter E. Haas Jr. Family Fund matching grant, the Frankie Poulos Foundation and the Michael J Nelson Foundation.
“This playground was built for pre-toddlers to experience, while honoring Kathy Gondola’s 31 years of dedicated employment at the Center”, shared Cheryl Paddack, the Center’s Executive Director. “The Gondola family has been an integral part of the Center since 1985 and this playground will be enjoyed by Kathy’s grandchildren and future generations of children to come.” Kathy expressed that she is “grateful to the Center for providing an enriching place for kids, while reassuring working parents with peace of mind knowing that that their kids are safe. Working at a nonprofit was rewarding, and an added bonus was that my children and grandchildren benefitted, too.”
Research shows that outdoor play and the use of play structures provide infant/toddlers the opportunity to acquire basic motor skills that help foster brain development. During the first three years of life, brain synapses are formed based on a child’s experiences and exposure to outdoor experiential learning. Providing this exposure supports the connections between the right and left hemispheres in the brain. Allowing children to crawl and climb onto structures teaches children about depth perception and encourages problem solving strategies. Play structures also foster language development by using prepositions such as over, under, inside, outside, behind, in front. The richness of providing a play structure in a child’s outdoor environment supports a holistic approach to developing their skills in each developmental domain.
In our 41st year, the Novato Youth Center is a 501c3 nonprofit that provides services to 2,700 youth and families. Our mission is to inspire and prepare youth to succeed. We provide youth and families, particularly those in need, with comprehensive programs that connect them to resources, strengthen skills, build community, and support their academic, emotional, and physical growth. To learn more, please visit www.novatoyouthcenter.org.
