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Jonesboro, AR – Contributed – Last football season, I faced a challenge familiar to many parents: finding a safe, comfortable place to take my toddler to the restroom at Centennial Bank Stadium.

Because of my job at A-State, I am fortunate to have an all-access pass that allowed us to use the private restrooms up in the west tower. That solved the immediate problem for my family, but it also made me think about all the families who do not have that privilege. What were they supposed to do?

Over the following year, I became pregnant again and welcomed my second child. As I looked ahead to another football season, I realized our family would face an additional challenge: finding a private, comfortable place to nurse my infant. There was no dedicated space in the stadium where I could take him to feed.

I know I am not the only parent who considers these things before attending a public event. Will there be a place for me and my children? Will our needs be accommodated? Will we truly be welcome? Do I need to call ahead and ask what options are available before we go?

Sometimes, families simply stay home because the mental load of getting those questions answered becomes too much. Parents should not need to call ahead, rely on special credentials, or leave an event entirely simply to meet their children’s basic needs.

That experience inspired a project I have worked on for almost a year: creating a dedicated family room and lactation space at Centennial Bank Stadium. Thanks to the help of countless people across campus, the room will be open for the first home football game and include a comfortable, air-conditioned room with a changing table, toys for young children and siblings, two chairs for nursing mothers, two sinks, and a private restroom for families.

These features may seem simple, but they solve real problems. Communal stadium restrooms can be hot, loud, and overwhelming for young children. They also provide no comfortable place for siblings to wait while a parent changes a baby or nurses. For parents accompanying a child of the opposite gender, deciding which restroom to use can create another uncomfortable situation.

The support for this project was overwhelming from the beginning. What ultimately moved it forward was getting the right people into the conversation and working toward the same goal. Julie Wyatt, Russ Hannah, Morgan Adams, and Tracy Stinnett were instrumental, along with countless other colleagues in Facilities, Athletics, Planning, Marketing, Printing Services, Finance, and the Chancellor’s Office. Their willingness to listen and collaborate turned an idea into a space that will directly improve the game-day experience for so many families.

This room is an important step, but it should also encourage us to think more broadly about how public facilities serve families. Family rooms should not be an afterthought or an accommodation someone must request. They should be permanent, easy to find, and available to everyone.

Thankfully, that message is spreading across A-State. Title IX is actively helping expand access to lactation rooms throughout campus, and I am still working with First National Bank Arena to establish a similar family space there in the future.

If we say our campus and events are for everyone, our facilities should reflect that. Truly welcoming families means anticipating their needs and creating spaces where parents and children can feel comfortable, respected, and included.