Hinchliffe Stadium adds child care center

PATERSON, N.J. (PIX11) — Kristian Carreno wants to step up to the plate for kids in Paterson.

He’s the general manager of Kidz at Play , a non-profit that offers childcare options for kids 3 months to 13 years, many coming from disadvantaged communities. Along with its two locations in Newark, it now opens Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson.

“It was just to tap into the families that are less fortunate,” said Carreno, “and give them an outlet of our daycare, and let them have a different world by coming into our facility and seeing a whole different side of it.”

Inside the center are newly outfitted nurseries and a media room complete with 3D printers and laser printers, letting kids do projects like creating their own puzzles. It joins a lineup at Hinchliffe Stadium that includes new affordable senior housing and a historical museum.

“I was born in Peru, came here when I was 10 years old,” said Carreno, “so seeing this Hinchliffe Stadium come back to life, it’s really- I get the chills just to see it come back to life.”

Carreno opens the center not just in the shadow of Hinchliffe Stadium, but in the shadow of his alma mater, Paterson’s School No. 5. It’s a moment filled with joy, especially for his mother, the woman they call ‘Mama Tinkerbell,’ Flor Rohr.

“I’m coming to the place that I suffered a lot, and look where we are,” said an emotional Rohr.

Rohr lived just across the street, on Totowa Avenue, after coming to the United States from Peru with almost nothing.  The founder and president of Kidz at Play says despite her suffering, she knew her vision would become reality.

“I did it,” said Rohr, “and I’m very happy.”

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