Council approves 'Kid n Play' indoor playground for Lockwood district with safety conditions

The Richardson City Council unanimously approved a special permit on March 23 for a family-oriented indoor playground called Kid n Play at 506 Lockwood Drive in the Lockwood District.

Senior planner Derek Peters described the site as a half-acre property with a 10,000-square-foot building and outlined the request for a 3,500-square-foot suite to be used as an indoor playground. Peters told council the applicant proposes to cap occupancy at 30 people (children plus accompanying adults), requires a parent or guardian to remain with children, and limits activities to indoor spaces; those restrictions were included as special conditions in the permit recommendation.

The applicants, Tiffany and Anson Long, described a QR-code ticketing system tied to online waivers and said the entry area will include a staffed check-in desk and a locked barrier so children cannot exit without an authorized adult. Council members pressed the applicants on supervision ratios, entry/exit controls and door upgrades; applicants said they would install a replacement door, a barrier at the check-in desk that is locked, and a process to deny entry to adults who attempt to leave without children.

Councilmember Justice moved to approve zoning file ZF206‑61 and adopt the accompanying ordinance; Councilmember Arffin seconded. The council approved the permit and ordinance unanimously (7–0). The approval was accompanied by the special conditions presented by staff, including the hours of operation and the maximum occupancy cap.

The project joins existing Lockwood District businesses and uses existing parking; staff noted the City Planning Commission recommended approval and no public correspondence was received.