Photograph:KIDDIE SECURITY: Jessica Mojica removes child's identification bracelet at the Discovery Zone. Photo Credit: Njeru Waithaka
By Bernie McAleer, Staff Reporter
One of the things that catches visitors off guard as they enter the Discovery Zone Fun Center in Kingsbridge Heights is the rush of children as they whip down the 25-foot high slide.
The other thing that surprises them, aside from the rarity of a colorful and clean indoor playground, known to kids and their parents as the DZ, is the metal detector at the first of two security checks.
Before entering the play area, everyone is issued a wristband identifying which child belongs to which adult. With matching codes on either end, the band provides a claim check of sorts for every child.
"When they leave, the wristband must match up between the adults and the children, or they don't leave," said James Henderson, general manager.
Of the company's 350 sites throughout the nation, only the ones in the Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens require visitors to pass through the security portal.
But the company is considering extending this policy nationwide.
"It's a sign of the times," said Edna Nissan, area marketing manager for Discovery Zone. "With the way things are, we have to take precautions."
Any metal items larger than nail clippers are prohibited. Swiss army knives are typical of the type of offending items that have been found.
"We ask them to leave it outside -- to go back home and leave it there if they are nearby or to drop it at their car," said Louis Rivera, a security guard.
"Sorry, you're not allowed to bring that in here," Rivera said to an entering customer about her recently purchased paring knife.
Diana Arocho, 35, a nurse, agreeably left to store it. "They need it in this area," she said, about the metal detector. "It was a kitchen knife."
But Arocho did notice that it was different from the New Jersey location where she usually brings her daughter. "We didn't have to go through the metal detector there," she said. "But I'm glad they have it."
Other customers concurred.
"It's a good thing -- a little inconvenient for the parent," said Elsie Albino, 54, who recently retired from the police department. "You don't want someone coming in here with a handgun and hurting children."
Her daughter, Victoria, 11, agreed: "I think it's a good thing because something might happen."
The 241 E. Fordham Road location gives children under 12 a place where they can have some supervised fun. Opened in September, it has not always had these safety measures.
"The last time I came, in late `94, they didn't have the metal detector," said Veronica Reed, 69. "But I heard they found parents with knives, so I think it's a good idea."
When asked if they set off the machine, Reed's grandchildren, Angela, 7, and Reuben, 5, said, "No, we didn't make any noise," they laughed, then pointed to their grandmother. "But she did."
