New Sensory Room opens at Palisades Center mall

WEST NYACK - A new Sensory Room has opened on the fourth floor of the Palisades Center mall. This space is designed for families needing a quiet place to relax amidst the mall's bright and bustling environment. The room will officially open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony next month, but it is available now for visitors. The Sensory Room covers 1,000 square feet and aims to help children who might feel overwhelmed. Carlos Martinez, the executive director of BRIDGES, a nonprofit that supports individuals with disabilities, explains that the room offers a calm space where kids can unwind. Sensory rooms benefit those with anxiety, autism, or other disabilities. They provide a soothing environment to help manage sensory overload. The Palisades Center's Sensory Room includes various calming features. It offers a mix of nature-themed art and a space-themed area, with tactile tools like a pegboard, a ball pit, and even a pin-art board. There are also relaxing water features and changing lights on the walls and floor. BRIDGES operates the Sensory Room through a subsidiary called Connections, which also provides job training and other support to people with disabilities. Entry to the Sensory Room is free until the official opening on April 4. After that, it will cost $15 for a 30-minute visit, with proceeds supporting BRIDGES programs. The grand opening of the Sensory Room is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday, April 4. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Children under 18 can use the room, but they must be accompanied by a caregiver.