Gold’s Gym Mission, TX prides itself on offering the very latest fitness amenities that its members desire, as well as a welcoming environment that caters to busy families. Therefore, when the gym recently underwent a major expansion and renovation, improved child care and outdoor play equipment were high on the list of enhancements.

The state-of-the-art Gold’s Gym Mission includes updated cardio training equipment, a top-of-the-line weight room, a 25-meter heated lap pool, sauna and steam rooms, a cardio cinema, racquetball courts, Lady Gold’s women’s gym, a boxing studio, a fully certified personal training department, and engaging exercise classes.

Gold’s Gym Mission also offers a state-of-the-art Kid’s Club childcare center.

“We accommodate families with young children by offering childcare services six days a week,” says Carolina Valadez, sales manager. “But before remodeling and expanding our Kid’s Club, we didn’t have a playground area for children. Instead, our Kid’s Club room featured Xbox Kinect, iPads, a television with Blu-Ray, toys and snacks.”

Teresa Garcia, Gold’s Gym Mission owner/partner, says the lack of fun options for children became a drain on the company’s membership goals.

“Our space was small and the kids didn’t have a lot of activities,” says Garcia. “They didn’t want to go to the gym and so their parents weren’t able to come.”

So, when the company decided to re-invest in the property, children’s amenities emerged as a high priority.

“With Gold’s Gym Mission being located in a very competitive area, we needed something that could differentiate us from the competition,” says Garcia. “Ownership felt that the Mission club ticked the boxes on everything else but when it came to our childcare services we were lacking.”

She continues, “I had looked at Soft Play several years ago but, due to budget constraints, didn’t entertain the possibility of having it installed. After going back and forth and looking at other options, we ultimately decided that, with the help of Soft Play’s creative team, we could design some key elements that would represent who we are as a company.”

Soft Play’s team measured the proposed space and created 3D designs for the Gold’s Gym Mission partners to review.

“When they sent me the 3D display of the alligator, it was amazing,” says Garcia. “I took it to the other partners and they loved it as well. Soft Play creates such beautiful designs. I looked at other soft foam companies and, although they may have been less expensive, I didn’t feel the durability was there. So, we decided to spend a bit more and keep it a lot longer.”

The outdoor play area is attached to the main facility and includes a lounging alligator with the Gold’s Gym logo on a gym bag that rests nearby, a hand weight with the Gold’s Gym lettering and the hare and tortoise, as well as other elements.

Garcia says the new play area has achieved all of the company’s goals and more.

“We have seen an increase in sales since we made all of the renovations and installed Soft Play,” says Garcia. “We needed that in order to stay competitive.”

Valadez adds, “The Soft Play area at Gold’s Gym Mission is definitely helping us recruit and retain members. ”

The company that owns Gold’s Gym Mission owns a total of six Gold’s Gym locations including two in Laredo and four across the Rio Grande Valley. With plans to build three more locations in the next three years, Garcia says she hopes to work with Soft Play again.

“Soft Play, hands-down, has such an unbelievably professional team,” says Garcia. “From sales to the installation, it was a pleasure to work with such a well-rounded group. I’m somewhat of a control freak but Jeff Williamson and Kalani Napoleon were so knowledgeable and supportive in this whole process that I didn’t even show up for the install. I knew that all the i’s had been dotted and the t’s had been crossed and that they had taken care of all the details.”