By Thomas J. Sullivan–
Parents and kids may soon have a reason to shout “Yippie!” if a planned indoor play area in Sunrise Plaza at the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Antelope Road is able to open as planned this summer.
On April 24, the Citrus Heights Planning Commission will review the application of Sacramento resident and young dad Ricardo Snovel to open the first Yippie’s Playcenter, a 5,830 square-foot indoor children’s play area modeled after the popular Chuck E. Cheese-themed restaurant.
The center is planned to take up the vacant space at 7777 Sunrise Blvd., Suite 1700, next to the Corner Pocket Sports Bar and a tattoo shop.
Yippie’s Playcenter would feature a simple snack bar and a refreshment area for parents and a colorful play structure in air-conditioned comfort for the kids to enjoy, according to Snovel.
“There would be really nothing like it in Citrus Heights”, Snovel said. “Our playcenter would be much smaller in size and a perfect play space for families in the Antelope Road area to stop in and have fun.”
“Yippie,” a flying green dinosaur, is the new mascot of Yippie’s Playcenter. Public comment remains open on Snovel’s application, which was filed with the Citrus Heights Planning Department on Feb. 6.
A public hearing will be held during the Planning Commission’s April 24 meeting. Several nearby businesses signed letters of support for the intended use as a play center, which were submitted to the Planning Commission.
Carmichael architect Gerald Beck submitted interior drawings of the site to the city planning commission. The proposed location was the site of a beauty parlor and is already ADA compliant.
The proposed space can handle the likely occupancy of children and adults the play center might attract, Beck said. Interior improvements call for the construction of a large colorful play structure, a snack bar and a larger meeting room suitable to hosting children’s birthday parties, he said.
Approval by the Sacramento Metro Fire District is required as potential occupancy capacity concerns have to be addressed, Snovel said. “We will be looking to see what they require of us before determining what type of interior play structure we can build.”
On average, cost of an interior play structure can run between $30,000 on up, he said.
Snovel said he considered several sites before choosing Sunrise Plaza. The proposed play center is near a number of family friendly retailers in the area including Leatherby’s Ice Cream, Mountain Mike’s Pizza and the Family Fitness Center, “just to name a few,” he said.
Yippie’s Playcenter is geared for ages 12 and under, and Snovel says he’s anticipating doing some brisk after-school business.
Plans to launch Yippie’s Playcenter began with a social media campaign earlier this spring to gauge public reaction. “I’m aware that the public might consider where Yippie’s Playcenter might be unusual, that is near a popular bar, The Corner Pocket, and that there’s a tattoo shop nearby,” he said.
“We’ve solicited feedback from neighbors and families nearby and the response has generally been positive. We’re looking at the hours we’re planning to be open so that we take into account the safety of families and children who may come to Yippie’s Playcenter.”
“We’re hoping to open later this summer, if we meet with the city’s approval,” Snovel said.
Want to know how Wednesday’s public hearing went? Click here to subscribe to The Sentinel and read our followup story this weekend.
