Apple Lane Community Child Care recently celebrated 30 years in Austin.

The 30th anniversary party included all the children, staff and Director Shannon Hart. They dressed up in 1980s attire, had a hula-hoop contest and danced to 1980s music. They had Pac-Man cookies to celebrate.

Apple Lane opened its doors in June 1986 as Apple Lane Child Care of St. Edwards Catholic Church. It started with 14 children and two classrooms. It was operated by four employees. Gaye Edstrom, Sandy Schlichter and Alana Miller served as teachers and Char Benson conducted the office work.

On Oct. 29, 1997, after negotiations with St. Edward’s, a newly formed nonprofit agency as Apple Lane Community Child Care Center was created. The center provided care for 190 children each year.

Apple Lane opened a second site in 2006 at Riverland Community College. This site provided childcare and early education for children age six weeks to five years old.

In June 2013, Apple Lane moved into a newly renovated facility on Riverland’s west campus in Austin. The facility provides childcare to more than 300 children age 6 weeks old to 12 years old.