GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – After seven years in its downtown location, the Children’s Museum of Green Bay is packing up their bags and moving this spring.
The museum’s lease in their downtown location was set to be up and Executive Director Toni Burnett says they realized that they had simply grown out of their space.
“It’s no secret — especially to those who regularly visit the Children’s Museum — that we are out of space where we are currently located,” she explains. “While we loved being downtown for the past seven years, there is no space at our current location for new exhibits for outdoor green space or space to hold special events.”
The new exhibits that are taking shape don’t necessarily look the same way that most people are accustomed to when visiting a children’s museum.
Over the past handful of years, an emphasis has been placed in open spaces and hands-on features for kids to work with.
“New exhibits are STEM-based, science, technology, engineering, and math,” explains Burnett. “All new exhibits are STEM-based and in the past exhibits were our town based.”
The new location, directly across from Bay Beach Amusement Park, will be similar in size, but constructed in a manner that is more open flowing, thus making it seem bigger and more spacious on the inside.
Another size issue for the downtown location related to parking.
“Parking is also a challenge; especially for buses dropping off school groups,” she says. “So, with our lease being up, it made sense to search for a new location.”
The new location will feature around 51 available parking spots, which are free of charge, and additional space for a bus drop off and parking for school groups.
More space on the inside better equipped to house STEM-based exhibits, paired with more expansive parking and attractions right across the street leads officials to believe that will add up to more people coming through the door.
“We anticipate serving up to 120,000 visitors a year, up from our current average of 72,000 annually,” says Museum Board Chair Chris Cumicek.
According to him and Burnett, this is “phase one,” with an expansion possibility existing in the next few years.
“We wanted to find something that not only addressed current needs, but provides room to grow in the future,” he explains. “It is a great space and location and allows us room to grow.”
The idea of putting a destination inside an existing destination is a no-brainer to outgoing Mayor Jim Schmitt, who thinks the Bay Beach area will be the perfect complement to the museum.
“We too at Bay Beach will be expanding our offerings in that we can work together,” says Schmitt. “We’re open 110 days a year now.”
Schmitt says he’s always been a supporter of the museum and is glad to see them find a fitting location.
“It’s obvious from the growth throughout the years that our community values children and the Children’s Museum,” he explains. “And now, in this new location, they’ll be able to serve even more children and families.”
The museum is planning to start their move to 1230 Bay Beach Road on April 21 and then reopen at their new location in early May.
Performa, a local architectural firm, is designing the new space and the buildout is being handled by Miron Construction.
