New amenities for families have recently opened or are coming soon to our neighborhoods in Brooklyn. Our roundup features a new location of the Space Club play space in Fort Greene, a sewing studio for kids and families in Gowanus, a new STEM Center for robotics and engineering in Brooklyn Heights, and a renovated playground in Bay Ridge. Plus, look forward to more openings this winter, including a daycare in Downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn Bridge Park’s new playground at Pier 5, and the newest locations of Tutu School in DUMBO and Treasure Trunk Theatre in Prospect Heights.
Space Club | New location in Fort Greene | NOW OPEN
Space Club, the sensory play space in Greenpoint, has opened their second location in Fort Greene at 143 Waverly Avenue. The four-level, 36,000 square-foot space includes both a rooftop and an outdoor deck. The space is open 365 days a year, 8am-7pm daily. All ages, 0 and up, are welcome! The facility includes a huge array of sensory play areas. There are jungle gyms, huge ball pits with swings and rings hanging overhead, a studio for arts and crafts, a LEGO pit, a bead pit, a huge floor piano, and even a glow-in-the-dark room. Drop-in visits are $35 for a 2-hour pass, which includes one child and one accompanying adult. Membership is $249/month, plus a $500 joining fee. Membership includes free weekday classes, free movie nights, free after school care, 2 accompanying adults per entry, and more. All events, parties, and classes will kick off in January at the Fort Greene location. Learn more here!
NYC FIRST STEM Center for District 13 Students | Brooklyn Heights | NOW OPEN
NYC FIRST Robotics has a new STEM Center in Brooklyn Heights. NYC FIRST is offering robotics and engineering programs to K-12 students, with a focus on grades 4-6. The lab is located at 1 Clinton Street, inside the Brooklyn Heights Library, and will serve all District 13 students. In addition, students at PS 54 and PS 307 have received robotics kits through the District 33 School Equity Initiative.
Aerapy Method | DUMBO | NOW OPEN
Aerapy Method is an aerial yoga studio that recently opened at 46 Old Fulton Street. The studio offers very small in-studio classes with a maximum of 3 students, so that everyone gets one-on-one attention from the instructor. The program is safe and accessible to all ages, teens and up. (Parents will need to sign a waiver before enroll their child in class, either online or in person). Aerapy also offers private sessions, as well as retreats in Costa Rica. All sessions are led by Aerapy’s founder Petra, who is a certified aerial practitioner. Classes are open to adults of all levels, and beginners are welcome. Take advantage of new students specials: $25/drop-in class and $99/4-class pack. Regular pricing is $40/drop-in class, $175/5-pack and $350/10-pack. Private hour-long sessions are $120 and semi-private 90-minute sessions are $200. See full class schedule here. Pre-registration is recommended; register online here.
Brooklyn Stitch Studio | Gowanus | NOW OPEN
Brooklyn Stitch Studio has opened a new studio space in Gowanus. They offer afterschool classes and workshops for teens, workshops for adults, and even parent & child workshops. Students will learn the basics of sewing and complete projects raining from zipper pouches to tote bags! Brooklyn Stitch Studio also offers school holiday camps for kids, located off-site at the Little Brooklyn Playschool in Carroll Gardens. Browse all programs and learn more here!
Vinland Playground | Bay Ridge | NOW OPEN
The Vinland Playground in Bay Ridge recently underwent a $3.4 million renovation, and reopened to the public on December 4. New features include a toddler playhouse, new swings, and a colorful water sprinkler that will turn on in the summer months. The park also has new trees, and seating for caregivers.
Blue Room Pottery Studio | Boerum Hill | NOW OPEN
A new pottery studio for adults has opened in Boerum Hill at Union and Bond Streets. Blue Room offers memberships for wheel throwers and hand builders, and the studio also offers introduction to wheel throwing events and parties. Parties will be for 8 people maximum, and will offer a 3-hour introduction to wheel throwing, with snacks and light bites provided.
New Pier 5 Playground | Brooklyn Bridge Park | Opening Winter/Spring 2025
Brooklyn Bridge Park is currently installing a new playground at Pier 5. The new play area will include a canopy for shade and sun protection, and there will be new play equipment for children ages 2 to 12 years old.
Little Scholars Childcare Center | New location in Downtown Brooklyn | Opening January 1, 2025
Little Scholars Childcare Center will open a new location on January 1, 2025 at 345 Adams Street in Downtown Brooklyn. The center accepts infants as young as 3 months up to children 5 years old. The curriculum supports physical, emotional, linguistic, and cognitive development for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Hours are 8am-6pm. Little Scholars offers open enrollment, and prospective families will tour the facility and participate in a family interview. Enroll your child by March 1, 2025, and the registration fee will be waived. Plus, if families join for the grand opening event coming up on Wednesday, December 18 from 2-4pm (with a special appearance from the Grinch, RSVP here!) and decide to enroll by January 31, 2025, you’ll receive an additional 10% off your first month’s tuition. For more details or to schedule a visit, call 718.925.4921 or email [email protected].
Tutu School | New location in DUMBO | Opening January 2025
Tutu School’s new location is coming to DUMBO soon, and will take over the old City Chemist spot at 100 Jay Street. Tutu School is a boutique ballet studio for children ages 18 months to 8 years old. They provide a magical introduction to ballet, music and creative movement. Tutu School will offer weekly ballet classes, ballet birthday parties and seasonal camps. Email them at [email protected] for more info or to join their email list to keep informed on registration and opening date news! Check out their out their opening class schedule for ages 6 months to 8 years old here; pre-registration opening soon.
Woven Performance and Longevity | Boerum Hill | Opening January 2025
Located at 333 Atlantic Avenue, this gym is slated to open in the new year, with an opening party on Saturday, January 18. Woven creates custom fitness programs for every member. Members can train one-on-one with a coach or in a semi-private format, where small groups of 4-6 complete custom programs. They also offer nutrition coaching and will have a cafe and community space which will serve coffee and snacks. Monthly memberships include unlimited access to the community space, and members make appointments to use the gym space. There are many options for training: Semi-private personal training (8x month for $440, 12x month for $660, unlimited $880/month), one-on-one training (8x month for $1,320, 12x month for $2,040), and nutrition coaching (1x month for $85, 2x month for $170, 4x month for $340).
Treasure Trunk Theatre | New location in Prospect Heights | Opening January 25, 2025
Treasure Trunk Theater is opening a new studio for kids classes, camps, birthday parties and more at 700 Washington Avenue. Classes will begin the first week of February; register here! Join for the studio’s Grand Opening on January 25, from 10am-1pm, with arts and crafts, a Sing-Along Adventure at 10:30am and 11:30am, dance parties and games, plus snacks and drinks for kids and grown-ups. This location is the third permanent home of the theatrical arts program for ages 0-8, with studios at 141 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn Heights and 179 4th Avenue in Park Slope. Classes and camps encourage students to explore drama through imagination, and incorporate movement, music, theatre games, and visual art. Learn more about their programming here.
Lindamood-Bell Learning Center | New location in DUMBO | Opening date TBA
Lindamood-Bell has signed a lease for a 3,252 square foot location, just south of DUMBO Heights at 203 Jay Street. The nationwide learning center offers tutoring in reading, math, and more, and specializes in working with students diagnosed with dyslexia, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder. The center will be relocating from its Brooklyn Heights location on 185 Montague Street.
Launch Trampoline Park | New location in Bay Ridge | Opening date TBA
The nationwide chain Launch Entertainment is opening a new center in Brooklyn, which will include a trampoline park, rock climbing, ninja warrior courses, and an arcade. The facility will be located at 531 86th Street in Bay Ridge. The center will also have a restaurant, and will host birthday parties for kids. Stay tuned here for updates on the opening and more details.
Slope Comics & Collectibles | Park Slope | Opening date TBA
A new comic book shop will open in the space formerly occupied by Jackrabbit Sports, at 151 7th Avenue (between Garfield and Carroll). Stay tuned for more info!
Possible family-friendly attractions coming to Macy’s location on Fulton Street | Downtown Brooklyn
There is the possibility of family-friendly attractions coming to 422 Fulton Street in Downtown Brooklyn, the longtime site of Macy’s. The four-story, 440,000 square-foot building was recently sold, and it is anticipated that the store will close in 2025. The buyers say the space could be transformed in the future for family-friendly uses, including retail or entertainment from mega companies like Netflix, Universal, and Lego.
Updated: December 18, 2024. Main Image: Space Club Fort Greene.
