The owner of a local chain of fitness studios has created a massive indoor playground for kids in the old New York Sports Club on Broad just south of Wall: Complete Playground is 40,000 square feet on three floors, with a giant climbing apparatus, pretend play areas and even a barbershop. But it has an added layer that is hard to spot: it is designed to celebrate and accommodate neurodivergence, so all the games and play areas are interactive and sensory friendly, with places for kids to unwind as well as run around.

Fidi resident Alex Reznik created the space with one of his sons, who is autistic, in mind: after visiting countless physical and occupational therapists around the city, he found the medical environments cold and unwelcoming. This kind of work with kids should take place in a fun, child-friendly environment, he thought, and maybe one that his other children could also enjoy.

So he decided to build it himself. And then, since he was having trouble raising the capital (“no one believed it could work,” he said) he made it a non-profit. (They take donations through GoFundMe.) So far, the funding for the startup has been from donors. It opened officially in February but he continues to build out new areas and floors.

Complete Playground charges for visits like any play space, but he allows schools to bring classes of kids for free during the quiet hours of midweek. He makes his money on the weekends and from scheduled parties. Plus kids can get their therapies on site, and play afterwards.

He can host birthday parties for up to 100 (believe me when I say its huge!); there’s a haircutting salon being built out now; he will soon host classes in the expansive padded basement room (soccer, gymnastics, etc); and there’s a quiet floor where kids can go and relax for a bit. There’s a pretend hospital, garage and supermarket, a Lego room and a climbing wall. Next up: a sensory room (he’s hoping to find a sponsor for that). There are giant touch screens for kids to draw with, and interactive video projectors combined with a sand-play table. All if it with sensory stimulation in mind.

“People are already calling from around the country,” Alex said. “And it’s not surprising — every third child in America has neurodiversity, from ADHD to the autism spectrum to dyslexia.”

There are no arcade games — “they make money but they make kids crazy” — and all of his toys have been imported from Europe, where he first spotted this kind of play space. There are also areas for kids as young as 10 months; age 12 is the limit.

The pricing is $50 per child and one adult for two hours; each additional adult is $10; kids under 1 are $10.

Alex is neurodivergent himself — he’s dyslexic and ADD — and he thinks that’s partially why he can take on a project like this. “I’m not afraid of risk,” he said. And this is a real passion project for him. “I was very idealistic about raising money but hey, I did it.”

It’s a passion project for him so much so that he has incorporated a sliding scale for services, even birthday parties. “Kids need support early,” he said. “And neuro-regular kids learn to be more tolerant. So it was really designed with all kids in mind.”

Complete Playground
30 Broad | Exchange Place & Beaver
212-248-3030
Monday to Sunday 9:30a to 7:30p