They are CLOSED and have been since 2020 Too bad, it was a cool INDOOR place for the kids to have fun right near Boston during the cold months. Boston def lacks indoor fun for kids (the 2 museums and aquarium get played out very fast) Boston and surrounding areas def need to work on this issue (indoor play during cold months) since the city is very busy with little kids. Hope this place relocates, doubt it though. read more

Cute place. Huge play space. It offers a lot. My concern was the climbing things that were set up. They seemed sooo dangerous. I was scared to death to have my daughter climb on there. The swings scared me as well. One of the climbing things, I say things because I'm not exactly sure what they are called, some sort of connector things, was right next to a small ball pit so the kids were climbing it and jumping into the ball pit. It's cute I just had a couple safety concerns. read more

Imagine Playspace - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

My son loves this place. We have gone twice, once when it was very quiet and had alot of space to ourselves and another day when there were LOTS of kids. There are so many different activities and lots of imaginary play areas that are awesome. My son takes to the train tables, the magnetic tile table and the play store the most. This is a nice change from our schedule and he genuinely has so much fun here he leaves crying everytime. I dropped two stars because every adult chair and all couches in this place (upstairs and downstairs) looks like it was picked up from someones trash on the curb. They are all soooooo nasty and dirty and gross. The whole downstairs area is honestly gross. There is definitely mildew/mold hidden somewhere down there. The air is terrible and made my chest feel a little weird after being down there for a bit. Theres a corner of baby toys that are all dirty and NONE of them work, turn on and lots are missing pieces. The water pump in the outdoor area was broken both times we visited. The pop open tunnels that toddlers crawl through were so dingy and dirty and flimsy, I cringed when my son crawled through it. The staff are ok, I think they should avoid cleaning up areas where kids are still playing. Even if it seems as the kid isnt playing with the toy right then and there. Come back around when there are no kids in that area. (Ex. Cleaning the food up when a child is playing at the register or kitchen area) I dont think big kids should be allowed to run around chasing eachother especially when there are always a mix of ages and infants/unsteady toddlers around. I think its unfair to have everyone especially littles wear socks and then have a SUPER slippery wooden floor and stage area. On our second visit my son slipped on the stage face first and busted his lip. He wasnt even running. Literally spent 15 mins in the bathroom putting pressure on his lip to stop the bleeding. (He is on daily aspirin for a heart condition he has) this ruined the rest of our stay and we left soon after. If you have a toddler or infant, expect to have to scold other peoples children for trying to snatch toys or being too rough around your kid. Lots of parents are on their phones or are wayyy across the room or in deep conversation with another parent, I even saw one parent on a laptop. I watch my kid like a hawk, I caught when he was not sharing or being nice and corrected him. Otherwise I let my kid engage and interact with other kids freely, BUT when an older kid is clearly being a jerk and trying to blatantly take from my kids hands its a problem and I will intervene. I did come across a few engaged parents who corrected their children when they were being aggressive which was appreciated. I think adding a simple water table and bubble machine to the outdoor area would make it better. A thorough cleaning of the downstairs area, replacing broken toys or just changing out the batteries and replacing all adult chairs and couches with new ones would make it closer to a five star place. read more

Imagine Playspace - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Wonderful space with a fabulous variety of toys for kids in the infant/toddler range. The staff continuously picked up so the space stayed clean and toys were easy to find. Everything organized by type: play food or puppets, cars or dolls, etc. For active kids, there's a ball pool, jungle gym, bouncy house, and swings. There's a kitchen for eating snacks/lunch (the space is peanut-free) and numerous bathrooms. Lots of chairs to sit, too. If you have to be trapped inside, this is the way to do it! read more

Imagine Playspace - Wonderful art, clean space, & a variety of toys - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Developmentally appropriate play, in a clean, comfortable, family-friemdly, community-supporting environment. Looking for puzzles, blocks, balance bikes, rock climbing walls, infant swings, a ball pit, a bounce house, a puppet theatre, a toy grocery store, climbers, rocking horses, color and shape sorting toys, a rice table, Playmobil toys, a pretend medical center, magnetic blocks, an infant thru tween library AND you want comfortable seating, access to fresh air, toddler and infant friendly bathrooms, the ability not only to bring snacks but also to refrigerate or heat them up and borrow a plate and cup and fork, high hairs, bumbo chairs, rocking chairs and a nursing room, a piano and an organ, free parking, nearby grocery stores/quick service restaurants, and a place that will not crucify you for forgetting junior's socks on a warm day? This is your place!! read more

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LOVE THIS PLACE! We've been coming here for months with our 1.5 year old. We prefer it to any indoor playspace we've been to, because it has so much more than others offer. -Climbing structures, mini-ball-pit, bounce house, riding toys for more active play -train table -small toys (stacking cups, fake food, dollhouse, jack-in-box type toys) appropriate for a variety of ages -musical instruments and puppets -rice table (like a water table) in the kitchen -art supplies -book nook with lots of children's books and a futon pillow on the floor. My child loves it and we love it. read more

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According to their website, still closed due to Covid as of 4/19/2021. Looks great - haven't visited.

Every single review here, good and bad, is true. This is because Imagine is a community space. It is not a corporate space, it is not an amusement park. Like all communities, it has its strengths and weaknesses. The good: It is truly excellent at entertaining and engaging children, which is the entire point of the place. Small kids, 7 and under, *love* it. It is a lifesaver on bad weather days to get out the energy. Kids can be kids here. There are no working electronic toys or screens. There is a ton of pretend play, an adorable tiny town, a huge library, and an amazing variety of toys that you don't find anywhere else. The best part is that the downstairs area offers just enough slightly 'dangerous' things, like the bounce house and climbing frame, that kids can test their limits in a safe place. Kids love and are attracted to danger and challenges. Imagine has both. There's no WiFi and you actually see caregivers interacting with their charges, not just looking at their phones. It's also incredibly diverse and reflects the surrounding communities and cities in its clientele. The not so good: it is admittedly shabby, but I've never seen a kid notice that. Some of the toys are from the 70s and 80s, and I wouldn't be more than a foot from a kid who mouths stuff at any time because there are small objects and the occasional broken toy with sharp edges. It is visibly dirty and I don't want to know how often they deep clean because the answer might be never. If you're a germaphobe parent, you'll hate it, but if you take your kid into public and accept the fact that they will get a cold often and they'll be fine, it won't bother you any more than the average fast casual restaurant does. The couches look and feel like they were stored in your grandparents basement: deep, dead-comfortable, and probably never vacuumed or steam cleaned. Who cares? Not your kid. (Though the stairwell between the two floors is bad enough that even the 6 year old commented on its smell.) I do wish that they'd offer some way for people with low income to access Imagine, such as the EBT pass that many museums have, but when you think about how much it must cost to rent the entire building, heat it, plumbing and electrical bills, etc, you'll see that they are focusing on keeping it open and entertaining kids. It's also incredibly disappointing that it is not wheelchair accessible on the second floor. Bottom line: kids love it here, and their joy matters more than some parents complaints. Unless a child is immunocompromised, take them here, but keep an eagle eye on them every second. It is well worth the cost if you can for an unforgettable morning or afternoon. read more

Easy fun, for sure. Compared to other play spaces, Imagine makes it so easy. The hours are long, uncomplicated and pretty much the same every single day. They don't close down the big open areas for classes or birthday parties (even though they have them) and this means you don't have to constantly check their hours or calendar on your phone while the city kids that so desperately need a little extra room to move pull you limb from limb. They pick up after you. As I've mentioned elsewhere, I think we could all pitch in a bit more, but if you just can't boss your kids into cleaning up their toys one more time, the women who run the place are there, doing the best they can to keep things tidy. They have a rice table. I mean, what are they, martyrs? And that's the tip of the iceberg...plus, they are constantly adding, editing and improving. You can bring lunch. The bathrooms are convenient and clean. I like the vibe. I've never once heard the staff speak in a discouraging way to any child. They trust the caregivers to keep kids safe and there's not a lot of do this here, don't do that there, this is allowed, this is not allowed adult nagging. I'm not a super-permissive parent by any means, but I think the hands off approach of the (minimal) staff allows for some pretty old-fashioned free play. Once you figure out the parking (or the busses) it's the easiest thing in the world to show up, meet friends, and let off steam - the kids' and your own. Sure there are places where the toys are fancier or more educational, the parents take more responsibility, the space and toys better engage large motor skills, there are more structured activities and/or less weird art and depressing ceiling tile. But Imagine is very cool in lots of ways and I'm so happy to have them nearby. read more

My two boys, 3 and 5, had a blast here. This place is a hidden jewel and we will definately be back. They have a little bit for everyone, and all kind of play style, from active (scooters and bouncy house) to quiet (puzzles, Mr. Potato Head???!) I read a few other reviews here about it being a bit dated, no surveillance cameras, and not as organized as other places in terms of giving you direction of how the children should play, with what and the bathrooms that are not modern.... That is all very true. For me that was not a dealbreaker, so I Highly recommend. read more

This place is amazing. Spacious, many play options, for a variety of age groups, and well organized. The games/toys are developmentally apropriate and well balanced in terms of quantity. The quality of the toys ia also impressive. The staff was very helpful and informative. I wonder how we managed without something like that till now! Paintings on the walls are in good taste and interesting. This place is a real gem. read more

This was a HUGE space for an indoor playground, boasting two different levels, lots of imaginary toys and tons of swings/slides/indoor cars etc. I really enjoyed being there for the morning with my son and it was definitely age appropriate. He is 17 months and there was plenty to keep him entertained and excited. I LOVED the space for that factor. The reason I'm docking a few points: *It was not the cleanest place *They let big kids in there who were far too big for this space....bullying some of the littles, accidentally knocking them over (I think this was more of a parental issue that a center issue) *NO ONE was at the front door. It was $15 to b there for as long as you wished and I didn't pay until I walked out. If I hadn't been so honest, I could've walked out without paying for the whole day. No one greeted me, explained where anything was etc. As such, my son & I spent the majority of the time downstairs (the less clean area) and could've been upstairs with imaginary play. I wish I had known as I would've spent most of our time upstairs. read more

Massive space with more toys and play options than any kids could fully explore. Some easy play structures too that are perfect for my 2.5 year old. A 12-pack is $144, which isn't bad especially considering it's good for the whole day. I often leave and come back after lunch. My only wish is that the owners were better at tending to the bathroom. Owners and the patrons. By noon, the whole play area starts to smell because there's poopy diapers and/or a clogged toilet, and I can't count the number of times I've walked in and found a kid used a toddler potty and the guardian didn't clean it. Also there's always a toilet or two that doesn't work. I wish the owners would be more vigilant about the bathrooms rather than picking up toys. A tended-to diaper genie and some disinfectant wipes would go a long way! read more

This review is written on behalf of my mother who brought my son to IMAGINE. I had the opportunity to take my 2.5 years old grandson to IMAGINE The Activity Center. We had a ball. The small admittance fee was quite worth it ($7.00). When you take off your shoes or sneakers there are cubby holes and hooks for our coats and jackets. There are so many things to do inside. He played with the cook house, the shopping cart, and the sliding board with a good view and good speed. He loved the bouncy house. He loved the monkey bars. We stayed there a little over 3 hours, time went by so quickly. We bought snacks with us so we had snack breaks and we also had potty breaks. The bathroom was nice and clean. We had a fun time even with the parents. We are thankful to have a center to participate in where our children can have fun and you guys do all the cleaning up! read more

Love the place. Kid loves the place. Love the owner. So accommodating. Cool crowd hangs out here too. I haven't read the reviews, but I think it may help to say that this place is very different when it is crowded. I don't dislike it when it's crowded, but I prefer the experience of coming in about 8:30 on a weekday. There's so much for kid to do and see. It's very friendly and calm. I really feel like the ownership are interested in serving the community and building relationships. If this place weren't there, I'd really feel its absence. read more

Went here for the first time and was disappointed. It had a weird smell and all the toys are dirty and broken! For what they charge they should at least clean up the place and get better toys. read more

This is a great indoor playground. We are visiting Boston on a family vacation, and wanted somewhere to take the kids on a rainy day. Both our 5 year old and the infant had lots of fun at this indoor playcenter. It was hard to find on google or yelp, so I'm peppering this review with keywords to help other people find it! The place is clean without feeling sterile, and there is a vast array of things to amuse babies, toddlers, kids and young people. Activities to stimulate imaginative play and equipment for physical play. Even indoor swings! It's a great indoor playground. read more

Absolutely amazing place!! Huge and very child friendly and appropriate. Wish I knew about this place sooner. My 2 1/2 had so much fun with so much to do. Most i door plays paces are dirty and rowdy- no the case here. Clean and loads of fun!!! read more

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Gave this place 2 tries... both experience was bad. Basically feels like your at someone house. My son and friend were playing and this older lady basically told us to make sure the kids clean up after themselves. Anywhere I go, I always make my son clean his own mess. But felt she didnt need to come to us to tell us to clean up. Especially when it was not busy. Also do not like the second entry downstairs bc there is no one watching it. They dont have security cameras... so basically someone could come take you kid and they wouldn't know. Just feels like im going to a messy relatives house. And too expensive for what it offers read more

Went back in December for a play date for the first time. First impression was there was zero direction on how or where to go. With an infant in a stroller and a toddler, there was a ramp to get into the door, but then no way to get the stroller upstairs or downstairs without needing someone to help you carry or having to take one child at a time. The day I went the heat had been broken and although they had space heaters, it was December. They still charged full price for everyone which I thought was a bit lacking in customer service. The space was very large but felt outdated, cluttered and dirty. The bathrooms were also very outdated and not having shoes on in a bathroom especially with toddlers "missing the potty" isn't sanitary and definitely grossed me out. Overall I would not go back. read more

Do NOT go to Imagine for the CPR class. My husband and I signed up weeks in advance and the staffer was woefully unprepared...she forgot we signed up and then took 30 minutes to set up the video--unsuccessfully. So we had to leave. While we got a full refund, it was a giant waste of time and shocking that this space runs a CPR class. You are better off going to a hospital or Red Cross class instead. (Side note: I'm sure some people enjoy sending their kids here, but it looked dirty and unkempt--we won't be returning.) read more

This place was a lifesaver when my West Coast family of 4 (2 kids ages 5 and 19 months) visited my sister and her family (daughter age 20 months). The kids body clocks were off, and going out as a big group was challenging. It was nice to be able to bring the kids somewhere safe, clean, and entertaining. The staff (owner?) was very friendly and laid back. The bathroom had three large stalls and a changing table. It was perfect. I wish we had this play space right near my own house! read more

I almost don't want to give this place a rave review because I would love to keep it a secret fun space for daughter, but it is too wonderful not to tell people about and only a matter of time until word spreads about how truly amazing Imagine is! From free coffee and snacks (most people make a donation though) to a bouncy house, to a puppet theater, to a quite reading nook, to a rice sensory table, there is pretty much every activity here that you could imagine doing with your toddler or young child. It is clean and well tended; upon my arrival workers were hard at work shoveling and they literally didn't stop cleaning and tidying for the entire 3 hours we were there. Guests are courteous of others and very friendly. It is only a matter of time until the word gets out about what a haven for parents and young children Imagine really is! read more

The space used to be kept clean but lately it has been a disaster zone. You also used to be able to use any toys you wanted, but now rooms are taken over by private birthdays on a regular basis. They often remain dirty after the birthday party has left and are not cleaned until the room is needed again by another private birthday party. Trash overflows from the trashcans on a regular basis while the person in charge is busy either picking up toys or preparing a room for another private birthday. Expect to find floors and tables dirty with crumbs, and also expect for toys in some rooms to be off limits to kids who are not part of the birthday party. I suspect that the person running the place does not want to spend the money necessary to run the place properly. They have even resorted at times to turning the lights off during the day on the second floor for what I assume is a cost saving measure (who turns off the lights in a business?). There is also zero enforcement of the rules in place. Expect to have unsupervised kids causing havoc while parents are glued to their smartphones or gossiping among each other. read more

Very clean. Good variety of toys. Good kitchen space, party area etc. Nice, safe area with good service.

I believe this place just recently opened, but there already is a feeling of community and warmth as soon as you walk through the doors. The space itself is beautiful. Colorful paintings abound. Everything is kept clean (parents must leave shoes at the door). And of course there are a million things to keep the little ones busy. Also, it is wonderfully convenient. The hours are 9-6 and they're open during many holidays. read more

What happens when children have space?? They run, jump, laugh, play play play!! Lots of different things for kids from little climbing structures to kitchen area to blocks, etc. A modest, comfy place to bring the kids. Seems like a nice community gathering spot too. Bring a book for yourself, otherwise you'll be writing reviews on yelp! read more

This place is amazing. Like others, I hesitated to review it because I didn't want it to get mobbed, but I also worry that they'll stay in business, since it's frankly unbelievable how awesome it is for such a low cost. Free craft materials, snacks and coffee, and the weird art for sale everywhere (think puppies with giant eyes) adds a singular ambience. I would live here if I could. read more

I absolutely love this place! it is a huge indoor space perfect for those really hot days, or very freezing days, whenever you, for whatever reason, don't want to go to the playground outside. They keep it relatively clean, especially The upstairs. Downstairs area is okay also. Lots of different toys four different ages. A large kitchen area in the back put tons of food, a large or active play area downstairs. The owner is also a very sweet lady. The price for a one-day pass is not the greatest, but also not bad. It's a better deal if you get a multiple pass visit. read more

Came here for a playdate. It cost 15 bucks for child. The place is very open and kids had stuff to do BUT there was a lady who kept watching us and telling us that all the items needed to be in certain areas. However it's a kids place. And they were still playing with it. I didn't like that she kept looking at us. I wish they had some time of surveillance because there is 2 ways to get in and there isn't someone constantly watching both entrances. I'd be back again but be a bit more eyeful of watching kids. Have a nice area to eat snacks read more

Only saw upstairs so can't comment on downstairs. Clean, very large playspace. Tons of toys for your kid to play with . On the day we went, parents were pretty good about watching their kids and there were no crazy kids (or slacker parents) ruining it for everybody. They have parking. If you go early, it's emptier, but the heat takes some time to warm the place up. Compared to Jam time Maynard, it's a bigger space with more toys, plus books too. Less big structures to play on but still enough. NO wifi, but that might be a good thing as parents can not just zone out. Great hours too - 9-6 every day. The price is now $10, but it's still a good deal; not sure how they stayed in business at $7. read more

The place is in a filthy, dimly lit basement with broken old toys, and junk all over the place. Not sure how this place stays in business? Gross! read more

Just remember I never written a review for this place. Brought my daughter there last winter after reading so many positive reviews. Turned out this place was a bummer. The first floor was ok, at least it was clean but the basement area was so dark and dirty. This was last year though, not sure if they upgrade their place because the pictures look nice. read more

I have never been so disgusted by an indoor playspace. This place was a musty, unorganized, filthy mess. I think that whomever opened the space had some brilliant ideas as the layout and play areas are a kids dream but it has clearly not been cared for or well maintained. One staff member was very kind, the others had little personality. The couches look like they were picked up from the curb, there were full bags of garbage on top of the kitchen tables, broken toys, nothing was organized. Vial. And to top it all off, they are the most expensive indoor playspace. No thank you. read more

We have recently visited this playground with my two boys. Their website and reviews looks amazing. But...I would never come back and I don't understand all the positive reviews. Only one star for the friendly stuff. Its very expensive. Its not safe, especially the ground floor, anyone can walk inside, the doors are open and no stuff is present on the first floor. This floor is very dirty, full of old unnecessary smelly furniture, many toys are very old and worn out. The only cool thing is the knights castle . The whole place has very bad odor. The second floor looks better and has some good stations with a lot of toys. However, I had an impression, some toys were bought recently, they are new, but most of the toys are from the second hand store. I wanted to walk away the moment I walked inside (the kids wanted to stay) This place has so much potential. Please make it clean; refresh with paint; update the smelly rugs; stuffed animals and puppets are too old and need a good bath; make the ground floor safe and bright; it doesn't need so many sofas and chairs for the adults (they are old and disgusting). Until then, we are not coming back. read more

It's usually a safe place for younger kids/toddlers/infants. However, today without warning there was a field trip with about 30-40 older kids from a school nearby showed up and no parental supervision. The place was all of sudden full of running kids and very dangerous to the younger ones. All the parents with younger kids left because of it. Not impressed because we paid $15 entrance fee. read more

The place is nice but it's definitely not worth $15 a day and far less $450 for 6 months. All the signs are made handwritten in office paper. There is no staff on site besides the owner who is behind every mother or nanny asking them to clean up. I think for the price they should at least have one person there helping out. I have also been there a few times when there is no one around who work there. Definitely it's a good option but because there is no competition in the area the owners don't invest in improving the place. read more

My 2.5 year old daughter and I visited this morning (a Tuesday) and the place was filled with other toddlers (in a good way), but not overcrowded! The other children acted as playmates for my daughter and none of the children stopped playing, bouncing, and interacting for the entire 2 hours we were there. In fact, my daughter didn't want to leave, but I was able to bribe her home by promising to return soon. And we absolutely WILL return soon! For only $6, my kid can play to her heart's content with all kinds of toys and activities that we don't have in our home. The space is CLEAN, wide OPEN, and FILLED with new experiences. The space was well thought out and the hours are convenient. This will be our go-to place when we need a change of scenery, want to host another toddler friend (but our home is messy), or need to burn of energy when it's ugly outside. read more

Best playspace in Boston. The variety of toys is amazing. They also have an indoor bounce house, train, climbing gym, mini "treehouse" of sorts, and swings! My kids (1 & 3) could play for 6 hours straight here and still not want to leave. It is huge!!! They even have a homey kitchen where you can serve your kids a packed lunch. Also, the owners are so sweet! I think the lady who started it used to work for or possibly own a preschool so she knows how to pick the most imaginative toys & activities for kids, as the name suggests. It's very down to earth, but clean. We love Imagine! read more

I've had a lot of fun here with kiddos. Usually older kid (8) gets bored after a bit, but there's enough stuff for her to do that she lasts a couple of hours. Younger kids (5, 2.5) can last for 4-5 hours here. It's a good mix of stuff. I wish they had more gross motor toys for older kids (actual bounce house, bigger trampoline, or best of all would be a more challenging climbing structure--doesn't need to be a huge one, but for example a horizontal climbing wall would be terrific). Nice mix of active stuff for littler kids, though, and we always enjoy exploring the eclectic collection of toys. My biggest complaint is the price--it's just so, so expensive for a few hours of play and everything kind of has a very lived in feeling. If I'm going to pay a fortune to bring a bunch of kids I want more stuff to do. If this place charged more like $5/kid, we'd be here at least once a week if not more, and given that you are playing with older, shabbier toys that seems more appropriate. That said the littler kids really like it and although I've found the staff to be awkward in their interactions (either overbearing or just spacey) it's a good place if I'm going to go park myself on the couch while the kids play for several hours. read more