CHILD'S PLAY

YMCA and DoSeum debut imaginative new play space for San Antonio kids

Imagination Station inspires creativity, movement, STEM exploration, and mental well-being.

Photo courtesy of YMCA of Greater San Antonio

San Antonio families just scored a brand-new place to play, dream, and move. In late September, the YMCA of Greater San Antonio and the DoSeum officially debuted Imagination Station, a new immersive play environment at the Mays Family YMCA at 8765 TX 151 Access Rd.

The first phase of the dynamic installation, funded with support from Community First Health Plans, opened in May. Now the complete Imagination Station is open to the public to inspire creativity, movement, STEM exploration, and mental well-being through child-led, hands-on learning.

Shannon Gowen, the VP of Marketing and Communications at YMCA of Greater San Antonio, said the design process was collaborative with YMCA staff, local families, and kids pitching in to shape the space through workshops and hands-on testing. Some of the drawings that helped shape the space are even on display.

Some of the play environments visitors can expect include:

Green Screen Studio: a theatrical space where children can act out scenes, direct plays, or even "disappear" using props and green blocks, with their creations broadcast on an outside monitor.
Sound & Light Dome: featuring a DJ booth that lets kids layer beats and control LED lights, along with a disco ball for an immersive, creative atmosphere.
Weaving Walls & Magnetic Walls: spaces where kids can use colorful fabrics, magnets, and tangrams (Chinese geometric puzzles consisting of a square cut into seven pieces) to design, build, and put their own stamp on the environment.
Rock Wall, Slide, and Chill Nook: areas that encourage physical activity, creativity, and mindfulness.

YMCA San Antonio Imagination Station Hands-on play includes a DJ station and a green screen studio.Photo courtesy of YMCA of Greater San Antonio

"This is a perfect example of what happens when great organizations come together with a shared purpose," said Theresa Scepanski, President & CEO of Community First Health Plans, in a press release. "Together, they've created something truly special — a space that will benefit families across our city for years to come."

For the YMCA, the project isn't just a cool new addition to its Potranco location; it's part of a bigger story. The organization is gearing up for its 150th anniversary in 2026, and Imagination Station highlights how the Y continues to evolve while staying rooted in its mission of youth development, healthy living, and community connection.

"When we announced Imagination Station, we promised a space where creativity, movement, and imagination would come together to support children's growth and well-being," said Louis Lopez, President & CEO of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio, in the release. "What makes this moment even more meaningful is that it launches us into an exciting year ahead — as the YMCA of Greater San Antonio prepares to celebrate 150 years of serving our community in 2026."

doseum ymca children families openings

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Barnes & Noble stages comeback with new San Antonio store

Barnes & Noble/ Facebook

Barnes & Noble is making a major comeback.

Don’t count out the big box stores just yet. Barnes & Noble is the newest retail giant bringing ‘90s style browsing back to San Antonio, this time with a new 20,419 square foot bookstore at 11745 I-10 W #750 set to open mid-2026 in the Huebner Oaks shopping center.

San Antonians may be surprised to see Barnes & Noble expanding after the 2010s “retail apocalypse” spurred by the domination of e-tailers like Amazon, which forced the closure of once ubiquitous chains nationwide. But since being acquired by hedge fund Elliott Advisors in 2019, the company has seen a renaissance, opening 60 stores in 2025 alone. The company attributes its growth to "the strategy to hand control of each bookstore to its local booksellers."

That doesn't mean that Barnes & Noble has gone indie, but the stores now have localized inventory and displays. That allows store managers to quickly respond to social media trends like #BookTok and curate merchandise that aligns with customer preferences.

The upswing can also be attributed to a new cultural interest in “third spaces,” gathering spots that are neither home nor work. The new Barnes & Noble stores go beyond books to offer toys, games, magazines, and gifts. They also often feature B&N Cafés so shoppers can flip through pages while they sip.

This will be Barnes and Noble's sixth current store in the San Antonio area, not counting the smaller version that acts as the college bookstore for St. Mary’s University. It will replace another late-decade icon, Bed, Bath & Beyond, which closed its Huebner Oaks outlet when the company went belly up in 2023.

Construction on the new bookstore is expected to be completed by late June 2026, according to Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation project details. A request for more detailed timeline information was not returned immediately.

Barnes & Noble joins a growing number of national retailers that are seeing renewed growth, largely fueled by Zoomer nostalgia. Bath & Body Works is among the brands seeing a resurgence as shoppers increasingly seek a more hands-on in-store experience.

books shopping northwest side heubner oaks openings