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Space Club Fort Greene offers tons of space to romp—and wade!  

First Impressions of Space Club Fort Greene

Upon walking into the brightly lit entry, I was struck by how spacious it felt. Space Club Fort Greene is less about rocket ships and planets and more about actual open space, which is notoriously elusive in a city of 8 million people.

The original Space Club in Greenpoint, Brooklyn quickly became a favorite destination for local parents. Space Club Fort Greene delivers the same sense of openness and wonder in a more central location on Waverly Avenue, just six short blocks from Fort Greene Park.

The parents behind both play spaces are designers—a fact that's evident upon entering the Fort Greene location. A white-and-yellow color scheme is accented by calming greens and pops of light pink. The space is comfortable and inviting, not just for little ones but for grownups, too. It felt like my favorite coffee shop and my favorite art museum got together and added ball pits and swings. I wanted to stay there all day.

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Space Club is a sensory-seeking kid’s dream. 

Best Things To Do at Space Club Fort Greene

There are three floors of activities, with some other areas, including a rooftop, still under construction. A ground floor café is a popular spot for munching on packed lunches and snacks. There are plans in the works to sell smoothies and other kid-friendly food.

First Floor Installations at Space Club

The first floor features a huge ball pit, filled with rounded, clear plastic stars—not balls—and a climbing structure. The pit is deep. My toddler swam her way to the steps of the climbing gym and enjoyed sliding back down into the pit. We crawled over to a wall of painted blue drums and other instruments to make some noise. The other side of the star pit features a climbing wall, which is best for slightly older children.

Nearby, cozy fabric swings hang from the ceiling like cocoons. They’re spaced a few feet apart from each other, but note that collisions are possible if lots of kids are swinging at the same time.

A wide set of padded steps lines one side of the room and makes a great spot for parents to pause for a rest. Babies and toddlers can climb the soft, shallow steps to touch the interactive sequin wall at the top. A few feet away, my daughter loved stuffing colorful scarves into a tall structure that uses forced air to suck them up and shoot them out to float back down to earth.

One downside to the space was that we kept stepping on tiny colorful beads, especially in the ball pit, which is too deep to see where you’re stepping. While not as painful as stepping on a Lego, some of the beads were oddly shaped and not so pleasant to tread upon.

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The beading room on the second floor lets kids play and craft in the giant pit of beads.

Second Floor Fun at Space Club

The source of the beads was revealed when we headed upstairs. The second floor is divided into several spaces including, you guessed it, a room full of beads. Signs posted in this space recommend the beading room for ages 5 and up. With my daughter thankfully past the stage of putting random objects into her mouth/nose, I allowed her to climb into the large pool of beads, where she happily remained for at least an hour.

Parents can help their children select a colorful piece of string to make a bracelet or necklace to take home. It’s a super cool concept. But there's no easy way to contain thousands upon thousands of tiny beads, which can be spotted in every corner of the play space from the ball pits to the bathrooms. Hours later, while getting ready for bath time, we discovered a few accidental souvenirs hiding out in my daughter's clothes.

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Kids can build to their heart's content at the Lego Pool. 

The second floor has a few other areas including a huge pool of white plastic Legos. A small white room with markers and bright blue and pink sticky notes was covered from floor to ceiling with sweet messages and scribbled names. Windows bathe the entire floor in natural light. A few areas on this floor are under construction, so parents need to keep a close eye on their children. I spotted one toddler briefly wandering through a clear plastic curtain into a construction zone.

Space Club's Basement

The downstairs offers a completely different vibe, with dark blue and green hues. I don’t normally love windowless basements, but this was a notable exception. It felt so calming, my daughter and I didn't want to leave.

A massive ball pit filled with blue plastic stars features bench swings, basket swings, and tires for climbing. “It feels like we’re under the water!” my daughter gleefully shared while perched on a swing above the sea of blue. Nearby, a huge floor piano next to a mirrored wall gave little ones a chance to make music with their feet. A soft climbing area and a sequin wall make this level a perfect spot for the littlest guests.

Know Before You Go to Space Club Fort Greene

• Single passes to Space Club cost $35 for 2 hours of open play for one adult and one child. Add $15 for each additional hour.
• The entrance has a ramp, making the first floor accessible for wheelchairs and strollers, but there are no elevators. The basement level and second floor can only be accessed via stairs.
• You must sign a waiver before you can play.
• Memberships are available and grant members access to movie nights, after-school care, and weekday classes.
• Lockers, coat hooks, and stroller parking are available on the first floor.
• Socks are required and are available for purchase.
• Bring your own snacks or lunch to eat in the café, which will soon offer food for purchase.

Photos by the author