NORMAL - Tim and Jacquie Guzinski don't mind other people's children bringing the mess to their place.

With two young children of their own, they opened a new fun center in Normal this week that features activities many parents don't want their children doing at home: painting on the walls; throwing slime balls that stick on the walls; digging in sand; and playing in water, for example.

Make a Mess Kids Fun Center, 1503 E. College Ave., near Alexander's Steak House, is not the typical fun center packed with video games and Skee-Ball machines that pump out tickets used to redeem prizes.

No tokens. No tickets. No prizes. Just play.

"We're a completely token-free center," Tim Guzinski said. "The fun isn't determined by the amount of money you spend."

Parents and toddlers under 2 get in free. Children ages 2 to 4 pay $6 admission, while those ages 5 and older pay $8. Time is unlimited.

Activities are geared for children 14 and under, he said.

The 11,000-square-foot playroom occupies the former Little Village Treasures gift shop, which closed in July.

The Guzinskis knocked out some walls to create one large open room, with another 3,500-square-foot room where families can have birthday parties. The banquet room seats about 100 and has a big-screen TV where parents can watch their favorite show or keep an eye on their children. Images from security cameras throughout the facility will be viewable from the TV.

"We've got just one exit, and we really wanted to step up the security so parents could sit back and relax, without worrying or chasing around their children," Tim Guzinski said.

The Guzinskis also built a two-story, 1,100-square-foot climbing gym called "The Swamp," with a 12-foot-by-12-foot ball pit, and a separate 30-foot inflatable obstacle course.

They also bought equipment from Teddy Set Go!, which closed at the Shoppes at College Hills in Normal in April, so children can make-their-own stuffed animals.

They installed a snack bar that serves pizza, hotdogs, soft pretzels, grilled cheese sandwiches, breadsticks, chips, candy and beverages. For healthier selections, the bar serves fruit cups and baby carrots.

The rest of the room is broken up by small, temporary walls to create some separation for various play areas: an art room with a dry-erase wall and several canvases for painting; "Slime City," were children can throw various slime balls at targets on a wall; a "dino dig" area with sandboxes; a small pond to catch fish with magnetic poles; a "dreamland" for dress up and tea parties; an area with inflatable blocks to build forts; and a walled-off toddler room with soft toys, a slide and other games for ages 4 and under.

The fun center also has a karaoke machine, a foosball table, an air hockey table, a triangular air hockey table for three-person play, a basketball game and a lounge area.

Hours are 10 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.