A Beloved Harlem Indoor Playground Is At Risk Of Closing, Owner Says

HARLEM, NY — Harlem Studio Playground, an imaginative new indoor play space for children, finally opened its doors in December, nearly a year after owner Mariely Hieroms first signed the lease at 1809 Amsterdam Ave. near West 150th Street.

But after months of delays leading up to the grand opening, Hieroms told Patch she’s now struggling to make ends meet and could be forced to close if she can’t make up for lost time. Still, she said she’s doing everything she can to keep the doors open because her neighborhood needs it.

"[Harlem Studio Playground] was born from the need that I had as a mom," the Harlem mom of three said.

When Hieroms signed the lease last year, she said she didn’t anticipate the challenges ahead.

The storefront experiences constant leaks — in one case, causing part of the ceiling to collapse — and she said the contractor she hired failed to complete promised work, causing her to lose money and delay the opening by several months.

Complicating matters, the contractor Hieroms hired was also the building’s manager, she said.

"We were scammed by an employee of the landlord," she told Patch.

Solar Realty Management, which manages the building, declined to comment.

According to the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the four-story building has 16 apartments and 98 open violations, including mold, vermin, and broken heating systems. Of the 98 open violations, there are 29 "Class C" violations, which are classified as "immediately hazardous."

Hieroms said she has fallen four months behind on rent and is now in housing court with her landlord, fighting to remain open.

"Despite our best efforts, we are struggling to catch up on rent and debt, and our landlord has shown no compassion," her GoFundMe reads. "Still, we believe this space is not just our dream, it’s something our community truly needs."

Hieroms said she struggled to find places to take her children uptown and often had to travel downtown or to Brooklyn for indoor play spaces. After teaching middle school through the pandemic, she decided to leave her teaching career and open the playground — hoping to create a safe, welcoming space where families could gather and connect without leaving the neighborhood.

"My community, and people are saying, 'You cannot close your doors. We need this,'" Hieroms said. "There are no other indoor recreational spaces like this for young children in the neighborhood."

The cozy space features a sandbox and other sensory play materials, along with building blocks, art supplies, dolls, dollhouses and puppets designed to spark imaginative play.

To help cover costs and keep the playground operating, Hieroms has launched a GoFundMe campaign and is hosting a fundraising cookie decorating party this weekend and a yoga class.

The goal is to raise $40,000 to cover rent, debt, and the necessary repairs. As of Feb. 12, the fundraiser has collected $1,894 from 38 donors.

For more information on how to support Harlem Studio Playground, click here.

Harlem Studio Playground is located at 1809 Amsterdam Ave.

For questions and tips, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.