Children's Museum reopens in new Parkway building
UTICA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — The Utica Children's Museum cut the ribbon on its new building on the Parkway in South Utica on Tuesday.
The $8 million project was part of a bigger $14 million project by Integrated Community Alternatives Network (ICAN) to create a first-of-its-kind human services non-profit and children's museum hybrid.
'Today marks an incredible milestone not just for the Utica Children's Museum, but for our entire community,' Meghan Fraser McGrogan, the museum's executive director, said in a statement. 'We are so excited to celebrate the hard work of our team and all of our partners who made this project possible. We have thoughtfully designed this museum to be an inclusive, welcoming and inspiring environment for children to learn and grow. Our new museum is truly a place where families can come together to play, learn and create lasting memories.' Thank you Governor Kathy Hochul and Commissioner Hope Knight for your unwavering support and investment in our vision.'
The museum's new building features a 4,000 square-foot rotunda and a 10,000 square-foot second floor. The second floor showcases six galleries and 60 exhibits focusing on Central New York, entitled 'Love Where You Live!'
The museum also features multiple play zones for children, including:
The Climber, providing two stories of physical challenges,
The Meeting Place, which is common space for groups and other programs,
The World Market, a global gallery that allows children to experience world cultures,
Build It Up, a place for children to get hands on with building structures,
Let's Experiment, a zone that allows children to get creative through STEAM-based challenges,
Seasons, a zone that allows children to learn about weather,
The Cove, a zone that promotes the importance of pausing and calming down by providing an 'oasis of calm,' and
Several other multi-purpose rooms for groups and programs to enjoy.
ICAN and the Children's Museum announced the move in 2020, a week before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the museum earlier than expected. While the new museum was being built, a Mobile Museum was sent out into the community to 'take the fun out on the road.'
Groundbreaking on the museum began in a ceremony in 2021, while the new Rotunda was completed in 2023.
The project was funded by a $750,000 grant from the Governor's state capital funding sources, $1 million from the Market New York program from Empire State Development, and $300,000 in a capital grant from the New York State Council on the Arts. Assemblymember Marianne Buttenschon also secured another $125,000 in funding through last year's state budget.
'The Utica Children's Museum is a place where families can gather and watch their children thrive, and I am proud to celebrate this wonderful space for the Mohawk Valley,' Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement. 'These exciting exhibits and additions to the project will become an important extension of the community — families and children from across the region will experience the new museum together and create a welcoming environment for many years ahead.'
The museum will officially open on Thursday, May 1. Tickets are $15 for adults and children above the age of one. Children under one year old are admitted free. Museums for All members can get in for three dollars with an ID and EBT card. Visitors can book reservations and purchase memberships on the Children's Museum website.
'The opening of the Utica Children's Museum is a shining example of what our community can accomplish when we come together to invest in our future,' Mayor Mike Galime said in a statement. 'Whether it was through a financial contribution or the sharing of ideas, I want to sincerely thank everyone who helped make this incredible space a reality. I look forward to creating memories here with my own family and seeing generations of children and families enjoy it for years to come.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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