Bounce City, West Rock Held Welcome Back Carnival

This past Saturday the Bounce City and West Rock Indoor Sports and Entertainment Complex held a great a free event that local families were able to attend. Their Welcome Back Carnival featured a wide range of events including an inflatable obstacle course, carnival games and music, a giant inflatable slide, face painting and tattoos, egg and spoon race, carnival fun food, pie eating contest and dunk tank. The purpose of the event was to allow kids and their families the opportunity to try out new activities risk free. It was a great way for West Rock to give back to the local community, especially during these tough economic times.

“We have sports programming all year round. This is our open house to kick off the 2011-2012 year,” said Jenn Miller, wife of proprietor James Miller.

One the key centerpieces of today’s event was the complex’s most recent addition, its indoor turf field which is 26,000 square feet.

“This is our newest venture, the turf field. It’s the only turf field in Rockland County,” said Miller. “They’re (currently) doing field drills to introduce the kids to soccer. We’ve already had a football practice here as well.”

The turf is being used by the New City Rams. What sets the West Rock turf field apart from many others is the fact that it is inside a permanent structure. It adds a whole new world of opportunities to West Rock’s already popular programs in sports such as baseball and soccer. West Rock also has tennis, basketball, and other sports as well. Today was a chance for area kids to try them all out for free.

It is just the newest addition to an already impressive facility that is used for so much more than just everyday sports activities. The space provides a variety of party options. For example, a child’s birthday can be a diversified experience and be half sports-themed and half bounce-themed. Moreover, the facility has an upstairs that gives parents the opportunity to be removed from the party itself yet still be able to supervise their children.

Furthermore, thanks to their partnership with Eddie Fudge, who owns an outdoors inflatables company, the interior of West Rock has a number fun and engaging inflatable attractions for a wide range of ages.

“There are always five inflatables,” said Fudge. “I brought my outdoor business into James’s facility and that’s how we got Bounce City started. It’ll be year tomorrow."

Plus the there are the non-sporting events that West Rock hosts as well.

“We also turn this place into a nightclub and do major events,” added James Miller who started the business three years ago. The complex is regularly used for events such sweet sixteens and bar and bat mitzvahs.

All in all, a great time was had by all who attended today. Most importantly, children were given the opportunity to try out new sporting activities and see which ones peaked their interest, which in turn will keep them active and healthy.