The yet-to-open Westchester Children’s Museum in Rye will not be delayed by recent setbacks related to a managerial handover at Playland, the museum’s president has announced.
“We are not affected by the delays in decisions about Playland Park,” said Westchester Children’s Museum President Corinne Zola on Wednesday. “We are proceeding on an independent track and our business plan was always based on comparable children’s museums in comparable communities without Playland as a factor at all in our attendance and operations numbers.”
Sustainable Playland Inc., the nonprofit planning to take over management at Playland, said last week their plans regarding the park would be put on hold pending the resolution of legal and financial concerns.
But since both the Westchester County Board of Legislators and County Executive Rob Astorino had already signed off on the museum’s lease, Zola said, the museum has “the necessary approvals to proceed independently.”
The museum is currently fundraising and hopes to open its doors by late 2015. Zola said that Westchester families can look forward to exhibits offering a family-friendly interactive learning environment based around imagination and play. But for families too eager to wait, there’s some good news: they can get a sneak peak this summer.
“While the summer months provide sun and warm weather, the Museum will take advantage of its location on the Boardwalk at Playland and open two new interactive exhibits that allow for exploration in science, technology, engineering, art and architecture,” Zola said. “Both exhibits offer opportunities for collaborative interaction.”
According to a press release, the museum has a fundraising goal of $10,000,000. No taxpayer dollars will be used to on the project.
The Westchester Children’s Museum has provided the following promotional material and all photos used for this article:
Opening May 10* – KEVA PLANKS
Thousands of small, uniform building planks allow for endless building possibilities; incorporate elements of art and architecture, offer opportunities for communal interaction (maybe between child and parent, children from different families; etc.) *Call for hours 914-421-5050
Opening June* – “BUILD A ROLLER COASTER”
An interactive, hands-on experience that involves the creation of your own Roller Coaster—from design to testing what makes the best design? Where does the ball get its energy from? How many different types of coasters can be built? Visitors will have a chance to make discoveries about force and energy, friction and stability, while at the same time having fun. *Call for hours 914-421-5050
