Meerdijk sports and business park will be expanded next year with three attractions. Diagonally opposite the De Meerdijk football stadium, construction of the Monkeytown indoor playground, a bouldering track (climbing hall) and an indoor padel court will start in early 2025.
The plan came from investor Boomroot from Babberich in Gelderland and contractor Palazzo from Arnhem. The intended location, a site measuring over 13,000 square meters, was purchased from the municipality of Emmen for 1.7 million euros.
Economic councilor Guido Rink (PvdA) is very pleased with the expansion. “The plan fits in nicely with the plans for the Sports and Exercise Campus (new construction of Carmel College, a top sports hall and a new stadium for FC Emmen, ed.) in the nearby area.” The initiative not only increases the attractiveness for tourists and visitors to come to Emmen, it also means employment in the form of 15 jobs.
This is a site that was previously used by circuses and the Roots Ribs & Brews festival. In addition to the three attractions, there will also be a catering facility and parking spaces at the location.
Monkey Town indoor playground consists of slides, ball pits, laser tag arenas, children’s trampolines, football cages and children’s escape rooms. In total there are around 50 branches in the Netherlands. Drenthe is still a blank spot on the map for the company behind the play paradise.
The fact that the initiators can pick up the pace is because the paperwork has already been completed. The zoning plan allows the arrival, the permits have already been obtained, the archaeological research has been completed and the land has been remediated.
A completion date for the complex is not known. Rink does not rule out that the opening could take place in 2025.