A new children’s fitness and play area recently opened in Painesville Township to provide a safe and enjoyable place for children of varying abilities and needs to have fun.
The team behind We Rock the Spectrum Lake County hosted a grand opening celebration for its new location in early August. Co-owner Angela Panzarella said the gym also features a relaxation room, activity areas for teens and toddlers, and more.
“We are inclusive and want to accept all children, from normal children to children with special needs,” she said.
Panzarella has a personal connection to the gym’s mission — her middle son was born with a heart problem and had complications. She said the gym is designed for people with autism or cerebral palsy, among others.
“And then we had a mother here who was in a wheelchair and her child was completely normal,” she added. “So we want to please everyone.”
As visitors enter the gym and pass the reception, they will come across an arts and crafts area and a play zone for babies and toddlers. Beyond this is the main gym area, which includes a climbing wall, zip line, trampoline and other equipment that children can use to climb and exercise.
“The 12 machines we have at the beginning are for therapy and to train core strength and balance,” said Panzarella.
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The gym also includes a party room, which she said is also used for music therapy. Further down, there is a youth room where visitors can relax and play games like air hockey.
In the back, a relaxation room offers dim lighting, a space theme and books for guests looking to unwind. Panzarella added that a weighted blanket and headphones are also available there.
The gym will be available for free play and birthday parties, she said. According to the gym’s website, free play sessions cost $15 per child and $13 for siblings. Day passes are $20, and other packages are available.
Panzarella also wants to offer courses and parent evenings where parents can drop off their children for up to two hours, as well as sensory-sensitive days with dim lighting and quiet music.
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We Rock the Spectrum-branded gyms can be found throughout the United States and in other countries. After learning about the gyms and visiting one, Panzarella worked with her brother, Robert Cacic, to open her franchise.
She hopes it will not only provide a place for children to have fun, but also create a sense of community.
“If you have questions or need help with IEPs (individualized education programs) and all that stuff, hopefully we can help you or point you in the direction of where you can get help and more information,” Panzarella said.
She and Cacic believe it is also helpful for children to interact with others.
“When you get a group of kids together, they’re just friendly and nice to each other and get along, instead of isolating themselves and then coming together later and saying, ‘Oh, this kid is kind of weird,'” Cacic said. “That’s not going to happen here, everyone will feel very equal, which is nice.”
We Rock the Spectrum Lake County is open every day of the week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 2163 Mentor Ave., in Painesville Township’s Century Village Plaza. For more information, call 440-520-5321, visit werockthespectrumlakecounty.com, or visit the Facebook page or Instagram page @wrtslakecounty.
