This is an artist’s rendering of the new Wonderscope Children’s Museum of Kansas City that will be located in the northwest part of the Red Bridge Shopping Center. The museum is expected to open in October 2020.
Children’s Museum prepares site for construction
By John Sharp
With the demolition of the former La Petite Academy now complete, additional site preparation work for the new Wonderscope Children’s Museum of Kansas City in the northwest part of the Red Bridge Shopping Center should begin in early September, according to Roxane Hill, Wonderscope executive director.
Hill said initial work will include grading, relocating utilities and constructing a retaining wall on the west side of the site along Oak.
Construction of the 30,000-square-foot interactive museum should begin in October, Hill said, and the facility should open in October 2020. It will include about a half-acre of space for outdoor activities and exhibits, she said.
Hill said the facility which is moving from its current location in Shawnee, KS, is expected to draw about 200,000 visitors in its first year of operation.
The museum will feature nine hands-on exhibits showcasing Kansas City food, music, nature, rivers & railways and sports designed to help children ranging from toddlers to elementary school students to learn through play. Creation Stations will allow children to explore art and science.
Hill said the state of the art new exhibits will be fabricated by an area firm, Dimensional Innovations, based in Merriam, KS. McCownGordon Construction of KCMO is the general contractor for the project.Wonderscope is only $1.5 million away from reaching its $15 million capital campaign goal for its new museum, Hill said. Donations can be made online at www.wonderscope.org. Donors will be recognized on the new museum’s donor wall.