Kristen O’Meally is clearly in her element as she unlocks the front door of 200 Lexington Green Circle to reveal a beehive of activity inside.
Moving with the confidence of someone who has done this before, she provides a tour of the massive space, nodding to workers—many of whom are family—busily painting, constructing playground equipment and putting other finishing touches on the soon-to-open play space. Even her grandmother is lending a hand, assembling benches that will provide seating for an insurgence of tiny humans.
In 2022, Kristen first envisioned a modern indoor playground focused on interactive learning. It was an idea that grew in part as a natural progression of her first-ever foray into entrepreneurship—a product-base business.
Initially, Kristen thought that she had a good handle on what amount of start-up capital would be needed to take her idea from concept to completion. She quickly discovered that a brick-and-mortar commercial build-out on the scale she needed would require significantly more—nearly three and a half times her original figure.
Instead of giving up, Kristen put her nose to the grindstone, setting out to find the support she needed to take that big leap.
Four years later, the Louisville location of Playground Abode, a unique play space designed to be a child’s “home away from home” and specifically geared toward kids ages one to eight, is humming right along. It has been so successful, in fact, that Kristen decided to open a second Playground Abode an hour away in Lexington.
A Lifelong Dream and a Different Take on Child’s Play
From childhood, Kristen O’Meally had a vision of her future based on a love of children and of education. A former educator, Kristen is originally from Lexington but moved with her family to Ohio and then to Florida, eventually landing in Texas where she earned a degree in early childhood education at the University of Texas San Antonio.
Kristen then married and moved with her husband to Washington, D.C., eventually coming back full-circle to Kentucky to be nearer to her family.
Her career began in a D.C. classroom where she instructed preschool students at a STEM school. As the school expanded and opened new locations, Kristen became a campus director, an experience that helped her better understand not only early childhood development but also the business side of operating a family-focused organization.
From Inspiration to Small Business Creation
Before the idea of Playground Abode took root, in 2020 Kristen experienced another “flash” of inspiration.
“The idea for my first business came almost randomly,” Kristen remembers. “I was scrolling through social media and saw a set of alphabet flashcards featuring children. I thought they would be even better if they represented a wider range of races, ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. I discussed the idea with my sister, and together we launched Kids for Culture.
“We created unique reading materials, toys, and games for children. Within six months, a Walmart representative contacted us about carrying our products in Walmart stores. That was really the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey.”
Her success with that business gave her the confidence she needed to pursue another idea that she had been considering since 2017—a business that would again bring her face-to-face with children and their families.
“At one point, I thought about opening a daycare or preschool, but after seeing everything involved behind the scenes, I realized that wasn’t what I wanted,” Kristen said. “It’s a tremendous amount of work, liability, and responsibility.”
As Kristen traveled internationally with her husband, she saw a variety of innovative play spaces. Recognizing a lack of options for very young children in Louisville, Kristen decided it was time to move forward with the creation of new kind of indoor educational playground in her home state.
“I wanted a place where children could use their imagination, move their bodies, and engage with other kids without relying on technology,” Kristen said.
While Kristen designed Playground Abode for children ages one to eight, she notes that her customers typically range in age from two to five. The concept is focused on open-ended play, movement, creativity, and social interaction. Unlike many entertainment venues geared toward older kids, the space was intentionally designed around the developmental needs of toddlers and preschoolers. In this space, children can explore art, music, reading, building, climbing and sensory play, all aimed at nurturing their growing imaginations.
In addition to the ample kid’s spaces, parents and caregivers will find an attached cafe where they are able to relax while enjoying coffee, a snack and Wi-Fi.
The Challenge: Vision to Reality
Like many small business dreamers, Kristen had the vision, subject knowledge and determination. What she lacked was experience navigating commercial financing.
She began working with Rhonda Jones of the Louisville Small Business Development Center, who helped her refine her business plan and financial projections. Through that process, Kristen was introduced to nonprofit Community Ventures and Shirie Hawkins, who now serves as Community Ventures’ President of Lending.
Community Ventures is known throughout the state for helping Kentucky entrepreneurs access funding for small businesses, including loans, business development assistance, technical assistance, and other small business support programs. In Kristen’s case, having access to someone knowledgeable in business development helped make a complex process easier to understand.
At first, Kristen applied for a much smaller loan. As project costs became clearer, it became obvious that additional funding would be needed to complete the buildout and launch the business successfully.
Commercial construction costs, specialized playground equipment, architectural work, and tenant improvements pushed the budget well beyond her original estimate.
For many entrepreneurs, that daunting realization would stop a dream dead in its tracks. Instead, with encouragement from Shirie, Kristen chose to trust the process and press on.
Bridging the Gap: Funding, Guidance, and Business Development Support
Shirie and Community Ventures set to work finding a solution. By leveraging funding from the CDFI Fund and coupling it with private support, Kristen was able to launch Playground Abode’s Louisville location.
While the funding was essential, Kristen says guidance throughout the process was equally valuable.
As a first-time brick-and-mortar business owner, she was learning how commercial lending worked, how to manage a large buildout project, and how to prepare for opening day.
With the right financing and support in place to move forward, the positive response to Playground Abode was immediate. Even before the doors officially opened in Louisville in July 2024, families were already booking birthday parties and registering for themed summer programs.
During the summer months, open-play sessions operated at capacity nearly every day. The summer camps sold out, and birthday party reservations filled the weekends.
The open play sessions last two hours, and Kristen notes that while walk-ins are welcome, capacity is limited to ensure comfort and safety, so reservations are suggested to guarantee a spot.
The strong community response to Playground Abode validated Kristen’s concept, so she didn’t hesitate to contact Community Ventures again when she was ready to bring her concept to Lexington.
“Shirie has been fantastic to work with throughout the process,” Kristen said. “She really helped me navigate a world I knew very little about, and access funding that might not otherwise have been possible.”
Shirie gives kudos to the young entrepreneur: “Kristen came to us with a strong vision for her business to not only open a thriving business in Louisville but to one day open a Lexington location as well. That day has arrived.
“She put in the hard work to grow the business, and it has been exciting to see Playground Abode become a valuable resource for families with small children in Louisville and now in Lexington. We can’t wait to see what Kristen accomplishes next on her business journey.”
Today, the Louisville location employs approximately 12 to 13 team members, while Kristen projects a total staff of 15 when all Lexington positions are filled. Together, the businesses are contributing jobs and a viable alternative in family programming to the local community, and a fun and unique play experience for Central Kentucky children.
Through it all, Kristen has remained focused on growth, family, and the mission that inspired the business in the first place.
In the midst of it all, life happened.
According to Kristen, one of the most meaningful parts of the story is the role her mother played both in bringing her back to Kentucky and encouraging her entrepreneurship. Her mother was excited about the business, accompanying and advising her as Kristen explored potential locations. Sadly, her mother passed away unexpectedly before getting to see Kristen’s dream come to fruition.
Fighting back tears, Kristen tells of the commemorative plaque and photo at the Louisville location dedicated to the memory of her mom.
“I know she would have been proud,” Kristen said. “She really was the driving force behind bringing us back to Kentucky in the first place.”
A year ago, Kristen and her husband welcomed their first child into the world, giving the couple a reason to celebrate.
Wise Words for Fellow Dreamers
Speaking to other aspiring entrepreneurs, Kristen advises them to be clear about their business’s purpose, understand their market, and prepare mentally and physically for the hard work that comes with business ownership. And to never give up on their dream just because the going gets tough, explaining that successful businesses rarely happen overnight and almost never go exactly as envisioned.
Visit Playground Abode for more information or follow them on Facebook or Instagram.
For Kentucky entrepreneurs hoping to make their own business dreams come true or needing help growing a dream already in progress, support may be closer than they think.
Business owners interested in small business loans, business development assistance, technical assistance, or other funding for small businesses can contact Community Ventures to learn more about available funding and support. As Kentucky’s top SBA microlender and a trusted source for small business loan guidance, Community Ventures helps entrepreneurs explore financing options and build stronger businesses for the future.