Discovery Playhouse ready for sneak peek

After years of planning, hard work, private donations and extensive volunteerism, the Discovery Playhouse is preparing to open in downtown Cape Girardeau. On Saturday night adults in this community -- we're not ready for the kids yet -- are invited to a special sneak peek of what the excitement is all about. The open house will start at 4 p.m. and end at 7 p.m. The location is 502 Broadway in Cape Girardeau.

We're calling this event a "funraiser," and we're encouraging folks who attend to make a donation. But if you aren't prepared to make a donation yet, that's OK, too. We still want you to stop by to understand what we're trying to do: provide a fun and safe environment for families to learn and play together.

For those who attend the event, we believe you will experience the birth of a dream. And by birth I mean just the beginning stages of what promises to get even bigger and better in the future. On Saturday you will be able to see the toddler play area, the climbable fire engine, the kids' ATM and banking area, a grocery shopping village, interactive fitness learning center, hands-on activity space and much, much more. As a special treat, you'll also be invited to engage with a type of traveling show that we plan to bring into the space throughout the year, in this case: a digital indoor planetarium with Hubble Space Telescope imaging of planets, stars, galaxies and constellations.

Do you think this sound exciting? We certainly do. And your kids and grandkids will love it once we're open for them in April.

As I said, we're still in our infancy. And we have a long way to go before we're where we want to be. But thanks to ongoing gifts -- including $78,000 that came in earlier this week to develop a waterplay area, carpet the entire second floor and sponsor other exhibits -- the future looks bright. Still, we need more help and more support if we are going to make the playhouse the type of learning center and tourist destination that can truly impact the area. That's why we want you to stop by: to see the potential.

On behalf of the board of directors, volunteers, donors, supporting businesses and dozens of kids who've been looking through our windows, I also want to say thank you to everyone involved for providing us the support and encouragement that has gotten us this far. I hope to see you all -- and anyone who is interested in learning more about the playhouse -- this Saturday. RSVPs to 334-7410 are encouraged but not required.

T. Kevin Priester is president of the board of directors of Discovery Playhouse in Cape Girardeau.