Owners expect the area’s first Play Jungle Indoor Adventure will open by December in North Jacksonville.
The city is reviewing a permit application for AEC Integrated to convert 4,600 square feet of shell space in the Dunns Creek Crossing shopping center at 11257 Alta Drive, Units 105-107, at an estimated cost of $225,000.
The jungle-themed playground will include three party rooms, a kids play area and one for tots, and a parents’ waiting area to watch their children.
Lisa Church, managing partner of Play Jungle LLC of Jacksonville, said Sept. 7 that she did not have a firm date for the opening.
She and her husband and business partner, Benjamin Church, designed and launched the concept. It is not a franchise.
“I designed and developed this business,” Lisa Church said.
The couple’s two sons are ages 5 and 3.
“We want to provide a safe, clean, comfortable place for kids to play and parents to relax,” she said.
“There aren’t enough indoor play places for children in Jacksonville that focus on active play for all ages. There are a lot of outdoor playgrounds in the area, but they are usually flooded or too hot to touch.”
Church said she has management and customer service experience but has not owned a business.
Neither has her husband, who is active military in the U.S. Navy, she said.
“We are new to the family entertainment industry but we had many examples of successful indoor play places back in San Diego,” Lisa Church said.
“We’ve done extensive research into the industry and we’ve consulted with the UNF SBDC to create a network of professionals that are helping along the way.”
The Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of North Florida says its no-cost consulting, low-cost training and information resources offers entrepreneurs access to the business solutions.
Lisa Church said the couple will have invested $225,000 of their personal funds when the project is completed.
The Churches registered Play Jungle LLC with the state in March 2024.
Church said the couple chose North Jacksonville because of its expanding commercial and residential development, as well as the suitability of Dunns Creek Crossing.
“It has the ceiling height we require for the play structure and there’s a day care a few doors down,” she said. Kids Club of Florida is in Units 119-122.
Jacksonville-based Ash Properties is developing Dunns Creek Crossing, a 94,000-square-foot center at northeast Alta Drive and Faye Road.
The center is near Interstates 295 and 95.
“If we choose to expand, our next location would most likely be St. Augustine,” Church said.
The Churches attended the Kids Expo at the World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine, “where we received some valuable insight and feedback from parents in that area. They are not pleased with the current indoor play options and they desire something new.”
PlayJungleKids.com says Play Jungle “provides a safe, clean, comfortable play place for kids ages 0-12 years. What makes us different, is our ability to accommodate infants, toddlers, and older children of all abilities within the same space, while also offering a relaxing environment for parents.
“Our facility offers a themed multi-level play structure and soft play toddler area alongside an interactive activity zone. Additionally, we prioritize comfort through our provision of packaged food and beverages, ample seating, and free Wi-Fi,” the site says.
It says that to accommodate group events and birthdays, it offers three private party rooms with multiple package options.
Pricing, rules and party information are available at playjunglekids.com.
Church said they plan to offer discounted presale memberships and accept party reservations in late October.