The Connection

A new Launch Trampoline Park will be opening at the Franklin Farm Village Shopping Center at 13348 Franklin Farm Road in Herndon this summer. Construction on the park has already begun with the hopes of opening in early August.

The roughly 25,000-square-foot park is taking over the space that used to be a Sears department store, according to Karim Bensouda of Ashburn, who will own and operate the park.

Bensouda also owns and operates the Kiddie Academy of Ashburn franchise.

“Because of the shared customer base of the trampoline park and the child care franchise, it was a good synergy for us,” he said. “This is just a complement to our portfolio of businesses that we have.”

Finding a location in a retail setting was important for Bensouda, as he says most trampoline parks are based in warehouse settings away from residential areas.

“It’s one, if not the only, trampoline park that is in a retail setting,” Bensouda said. “I’d like the park to be almost walking distance from the community versus having to drive to a flex warehouse setting,” he added.

Bensouda visited three other locations in other states before he decided to open his own. He liked that the franchise manufactures its own trampolines and equipment.

“The fact that they manufacture their own trampolines, they also have their own service for the trampolines so we can control the quality,” he said.

He said this would also allow him to change up the activities and setup to offer a variety of activities.

“We’re nimble enough to make it fun and have variety,” he said. “We won’t get bored or get complacent with the same activity over and over. We can cater to a diverse group of people, from children to parents to corporates,” he added.

The bouncing activities include: Trampolines, dodgeball areas with trampolines and massive foam pits for people of all ages.

The park will not have age limits. Bensouda imagines children as young as 2 or 3 years old can play in the park.

Staff members will be in place to monitor for safety as well as make sure age groups don’t mix on the trampolines. A section — the foam pit — will also be separated exclusively for younger children, according to Bensouda.

“We’re going to have what we call ‘toddler times’ that are going to happen during weekdays and in the morning,” he said. “That will allow them to come in and not have to basically be pushed around.”

Teen nights will also be provided for older children to roughhouse.

Children and adults alike can attempt to finish the “ninja obstacle course” that will be set up in the park.

“Unless you’re very, very into athletics and very fit, it can be challenging to complete,” Bensouda said, who was not able to finish the course at another franchise he visited.

But he does encourage the young at heart to jump into the fun if they are up for it.

“If you have an 85-year-old who is healthy and can jump, please come in,” he said. “The more the merrier.”

The park will also have an arcade and private party rooms.

“I’m over 40 years old and I sometimes play arcades myself,” he said.

A café will also feed patrons after they burn calories on the trampolines.

“We’re going to have smoothies, custom-made pizzas and other health options,” Bensouda said.

The Launch Trampoline Park franchise was founded in 2012 by Rhode Island entrepreneur Robert Arnold and retired New England Patriot cornerback and three-time Super Bowl Champion Ty Law. Arnold embarked on the vision for Launch in 2011 after he visited his first trampoline park with his wife and kids.

Launch Trampoline Park has its own mascot – “Joey,” a 7-foot-tall green kangaroo – who oversees fun at the park, assisting with birthdays and special events.

The franchise has two corporate locations in Warwick, Rhode Island and Hartford, Connecticut. The company is expanding its franchise nationwide.