(Madison, WI, September 22, 2025) – The Playing Field, an innovative early childhood center specializing in trauma-sensitive care, high-quality education, and family support across socio-economic backgrounds, will celebrate the opening of its new east side site with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, September 24, 2025.
This expansion represents the next step in The Playing Field’s mission to ensure all children – regardless of family income, housing status, or background – have access to high-quality early learning opportunities. The new location at the Tributary Hub on East Springs Drive will serve more children and families while continuing to provide bus transportation, scholarships, and trauma-sensitive care that removes barriers to access.
“The Playing Field is looking forward to opening our doors to the community as we celebrate the grand opening of our Early Learning Demonstration Site.” said Abbi Kruse, Founder and Executive Director of The Playing Field. “We are grateful for the overwhelming support from the Madison community, which will allow us to serve more children and expand our capacity for training early educators in trauma-sensitive care.”
The new east side site builds on The Playing Field’s innovative, holistic model, partnering with The Road Home Dane County and the Plumbers Union Local 75 to provide families with coordinated support, including housing resources and job training opportunities.
RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY:
- Wednesday, September 24, 2025, from 10am – 11am
- Tributary Hub, 2102 East Springs Drive, Madison, WI 53704
- Program: Remarks at 10 a.m.; Ribbon Cutting Followed by Tours at 10:30 a.m.
- Speakers: Steve Breitlow from Plumbers Union Local 75 • Michael Etheridge, Executive Director of The Road Home Dane County • Senator Kelda Roys • The Playing Field Founder Abbi Kruse
Fast Facts About The Playing Field
ENROLLMENT: Currently serves approximately 90 children aged 6 weeks to 5 years across both Madison sites. The new East Site will expand east side enrollment to serve up to 100 children. The Playing Field’s original Midtown location serves up to 56 children.
FUNDING: The Playing Field is funded through a combination of sources, including Early Head Start, United Way of Dane County, the City of Madison, and many generous donors. The enrollment model has a mix of children from families who pay full tuition, children from low-income families who receive scholarships, and children from families experiencing homelessness.
UNIQUE SERVICES: The Playing Field addresses barriers to access for low-income families, such as cost of care and transportation, by providing scholarships and bus service. In addition to cost and transportation, high rates of preschool expulsions create another barrier. Using Conscious Discipline®, a trauma-sensitive social-emotional program, staff are taught to see all behavior as communication as they respond to the individual needs of children.
