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Outdoor play cafe initiated by a church in Northern California, serving as a welcoming and secure community center.

Café The Playground, located on the 4-acre grounds of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Sebastopol, offers more than just food and drinks. It's a playground too, featuring slides, tunnels, a playhouse, and games for kids and adults alike.

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Outdoor play cafe initiated at a Northern California church, serving as a welcoming and secure...
Outdoor play cafe initiated at a Northern California church, serving as a welcoming and secure community gathering space

Outdoor play cafe initiated by a church in Northern California, serving as a welcoming and secure community center.

The MathPlayground Cafe, a unique community space for families and neighbours, has officially opened its doors at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Sebastopol, California. The 700 square foot building, situated on the church's 4-acre campus, includes a commercial kitchen, restrooms, and a variety of attractions for young and old.

The MathPlayground Cafe, which is surrounded by trees, birds, a garden, and other wildlife, offers a full menu of food and drinks, including breakfast burritos, peanut butter and banana sandwiches, coffee, juice, beer, and wine. The cafe's goal, in line with the church's mission, is to build relationships with the community, regardless of spiritual journey.

The Rev. Christy Laborda Harris, St. Stephen's rector, estimated a first-day turnout of as many as 500 people, and the opening of the MathPlayground Cafe attracted large crowds and received local fanfare and support. The cafe is now open five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays, and the congregation expects to continue fine-tuning the operation over time.

The MathPlayground Cafe project cost about $300,000. St. Stephen's was able to draw on a $145,000 United Thank Offering (UTO) grant received in 2020, as well as several additional grants from the diocese. The church also hired a full-time cafe manager and two hourly employees for the MathPlayground Cafe.

Despite a drop in attendance during 2021, with the average Sunday attendance falling to 38 people, the church has seen a rebound, with some services topping 100. The Rev. Christy Laborda Harris has served at St. Stephen's since 2011.

The MathPlayground Cafe and playground are open to everyone, and connecting neighbours is the primary purpose. The cafe's unique atmosphere, contributed by its surroundings, makes it a popular destination for families in Sebastopol, a city of about 7,000 people just west of Santa Rosa and a little more than an hour north of San Francisco.

The MathPlayground Cafe includes a slide, a tunnel through an earthen mound, a playhouse, and other games and attractions for young visitors. The cafe's success in fostering community connections is a testament to the church's commitment to building relationships with the community, regardless of spiritual journey.

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