What kid doesn’t dream of blasting off into outer space when mom or dad wants to drag him to the mall? But now kids at Metrocenter Mall in Phoenix can enjoy a new educational children’s play area designed with a fun and interactive Sky Park theme.

Dillon Works, a Mukilteo, Wash.-based design and fabrication company, collaborated with the mall owner to create a new play area, as part of the mall renovation.

“They wanted something unique to set their property apart from the rest,” says Brian Leonard, Dillon Works’ director of sales and marketing. “But they also wanted the play area to include some educational content so that it wasn’t just physical activities, but mental as well.”

Using a variety of materials, designers created a rocket, space shuttle, flooring, perimeter enclosure and banquette seating to fill the space with a variety of engaging activities and educational props. For instance, the 18-foot tall fiberglass, metal, wooden and plastic rocket can be used for climbing and sliding. The “Alien” spindles, fabricated from PVC tubing covered with vinyl graphics, allow kids to design their own space creature. Around the perimeter of the space, digital graphics printed onto PVC sheets create a colorful wall system.

Photography: Mike Dillon, Mukilteo, Wash.