As a mom of four, Olivia Walton knows the challenge of finding an indoor play space that keeps everyone happy. What works for a toddler isn’t always exciting for an elementary schooler, and what keeps the big kids entertained isn’t necessarily safe for a baby who’s just learning to crawl.
After years of driving her children to play spaces outside her Maplewood neighborhood, Walton decided to create the kind of place that she wished existed closer to home.
Her solution: Mapleplay Café, a new indoor play space and coffee shop at 2541 S. Big Bend in Maplewood. Housed in a century-old home, the café combines imaginative play, climbing structures, sensory activities, STEM experiences, and educational programming, with coffee and pastries for parents who could use a little pick-me-up.
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For Walton, who welcomed her fourth child in July 2025, the business is as much about bringing families together as it is about keeping kids entertained.
“I really wanted this to be a place for people to connect,” she says.
A play space for every age and stage
Unlike traditional indoor playrooms that primarily feature toys or larger trampoline parks geared toward older children, Mapleplay was designed with different ages and developmental stages in mind. Walton says the idea took shape after she asked other Maplewood parents what they wanted in a neighborhood play space.
“Everybody said, ‘Gross motor opportunities,’” she recalls. “‘We want climbing. We want rock walls.’”
She took that feedback to heart, creating distinct play areas throughout the building, each with its own purpose.
For the littlest visitors, The Seed is an enclosed soft-play space designed for non-walkers under 2. Located just steps from the café seating, it features gentle sensory textures and age-appropriate activities that encourage babies to crawl, explore, and discover their surroundings while caregivers stay close.
As children find their footing, they can graduate to The Root, a play area designed for toddlers ages 18 months and older. The space encourages early independence, movement, and motor development as little ones become more confident on their feet.
Nearby, miniature versions of a market, post office, and coffee shop invite children to put their imaginations to work. These dramatic-play areas encourage sharing, turn-taking, and social interaction as kids pretend to shop, serve customers, and take on different roles.
Upstairs, The Glade is where the bigger adventures happen. Designed for children ages 3 and older, the custom-built sensory gym features a ninja ramp, trapeze, rock-climbing wall, and foam pit. The padded structures encourage climbing, balancing, and other full-body movements that help children develop coordination and confidence.
Walton says the climbing structures were inspired in part by her own children, who love to climb, explore, and test their limits.
“Let’s create a space where that is allowed,” she says. “I don’t like saying no all the time.”
Rather than constantly reminding children to get down from furniture or stop climbing, Walton wanted an environment where they could channel that energy into play.
For children who benefit from a different kind of movement, The Current offers a flexible sensory space equipped with specialized swings and climbing equipment. Designed for ages 3 and older, the room focuses on balance, body awareness, and purposeful movement. Equipment can be moved or stored to accommodate quieter activities, enrichment classes, and sessions with physical or occupational therapists.
Older children have their own opportunities to explore in The Spark, a STEM-focused innovation space for ages 5 and older. Featuring building systems, circuit kits, and 3D design activities, the room encourages kids to experiment, solve problems, and create. Plans include rotating hands-on projects and workshops involving 3D printing and motorized LEGO builds.
Walton says the STEM component was inspired by her oldest son, who loves figuring out how things work, taking things apart, and putting them back together.
Together, the spaces reflect Walton’s goal of creating a place where siblings of different ages can each find something engaging to do.
More than a place to play
Walton hopes that Mapleplay will become a neighborhood gathering place where families can build friendships while children learn and explore.
The café has already begun offering educational and enrichment programming, including Spanish instruction with Señora Maria Holmes, Bricks 4 Kidz classes, and music sessions with local children’s performer Marko Polo.
Holmes, who previously taught Walton’s son, leads Spanish activities through songs, games, movement, and conversation. Bricks 4 Kidz introduces children to building and engineering concepts through hands-on projects. The programming reflects Walton’s interest in giving children opportunities to explore different interests, from creative arts to STEM.
The building’s flexible spaces are also available for homeschool groups, private educators, and therapists who need a setting for specialized sessions.
Eventually, Walton hopes to expand the outdoor play area, which currently includes sensory activities and a mud kitchen. Plans include additional equipment and supervised outdoor programming once the space is fully developed.
But one of her biggest goals is giving parents an opportunity to connect. Walton says she deliberately arranged the café’s seating to encourage conversation rather than having everyone retreat to separate corners.
“I built this place so that you can actually talk to each other,” she says.
It’s an approach inspired by her own experience living in Maplewood, where neighbors regularly gather and children play together along her street.
Walton says that sense of community also helped make Mapleplay possible. Friends and neighbors assisted with everything from finding the location to painting, construction, and furnishing the space.
“I couldn’t have done it without the community,” she says.
Coffee for the grown-ups
Of course, a play café wouldn’t be complete without coffee.
Mapleplay serves espresso drinks, including lattes, macchiatos, and Americanos, along with hot chocolate and other beverages.
For a sweet treat, the café partners with nearby The Blue Duck to offer locally made pastries, including scones, cookies, and other baked goods. Additional snacks are also available for children.
Walton hopes to eventually expand the menu with more substantial options, such as warm breakfast items and sandwiches.
For now, the focus is on creating a welcoming space where parents can grab a drink, catch up with a friend, and watch their children play.
What families should know before visiting
Mapleplay offers 90-minute open-play sessions, with admission priced at $15 for the first child and $5 for each additional child. Babies ages 6 months and younger enter for free, as do adults. Maplewood residents receive a discounted $12 admission rate for the first child.
Walton says affordability was a priority from the beginning, especially for families with multiple children. “I have four kids. So when I go somewhere, I don’t want to spend, like, a hundred bucks,” she says.
Families who need financial assistance can contact Mapleplay directly to discuss available options.
Open-play sessions are generally offered on weekdays, with current time slots beginning at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, although Walton encourages families to text ahead with the number and ages of their children so she can manage capacity. For now, she limits sessions to approximately 15 children to keep the space from feeling overcrowded.
Weekends are reserved for private events and birthday parties. The standard birthday package starts at $400 for a two-hour private rental of the entire facility, with optional add-ons such as café service, decorations, and activities.
Although the business is still in its early days, Walton already has ideas for expanding Mapleplay, including additional neighborhood locations and even a future gathering space for teenagers.
For now, she’s focused on the families walking through the door and the friendships taking shape inside.
“I did this as a place for my kids to be able to depend on and grow and meet friends,” she says, “as well as the other families in St. Louis.”
Mapleplay Cafe is located at 2541 S. Big Bend in Maplewood. Parking is available in the lot off Martini Drive, with additional street parking nearby. Families can visit mapleplaycafe.com or contact [email protected] for information about play sessions, classes, and private events.
