HAPPY&HOP – a children’s playground located in ERA Shopping Park, Iași, Romania.

HAPPY&HOP is a children’s playground located in ERA Shopping Park, in the city of Iași, Romania.

This project was created following the initiative of Mrs. Elena R.B. While traveling frequently abroad with her children, she noticed that in other countries there is a more developed culture of children’s playgrounds—spaces that offer a wider range of entertainment options and a higher level of service.

Knowing that there was no playground in Iași as complex as those she had seen abroad, in 2017 Mrs. Elena R.B. set herself the goal of building such a space in the city. Thus, the founder of HAPPY&HOP aimed to create a different kind of playground: a recreational space for children that would also allow parents to interact closely with their children, in a stimulating, decent, and safe environment—a place where everyone could have fun.

As a result, the actual development of the project began in 2017. A location was found that provided both sufficient surface area and an appropriate ceiling height for installing the playground. A design layout was created, after which all the necessary equipment was ordered from the United Kingdom.

Initially, the project was planned to be fully financed by the founder. During implementation, however, unforeseen expenses arose, creating the need for additional financial resources. Following a recommendation from an acquaintance, Mrs. Elena R.B. obtained financing of €30,000 from Mikro Kapital.

The project was successfully completed at the end of 2017, and by the beginning of 2019, eight people were employed within this project. The playground covers an area of 400 square meters and includes five zones (two playground areas, a party room, a bar area, and an administrative space). The founder of HAPPY&HOP has shared that her future plans include expanding the playground in order to develop a structure with a greater complexity of obstacles and attractions.