Title
Resolution Supporting the Use of $250,000 in Parks and Recreation Bond Funds for the Greensboro Children’s Museum
Body
Department: Budget and Evaluation
Council District: 3
Public Hearing: NA
Advertising Date/By: NA
Contact 1 and Phone: Larry Davis, 373-2291
Contact 2 and Phone: Jon Decker, 373-2291
PURPOSE:
To provide a $250,000 capital improvements grant in support of the Greensboro Children’s Museum Reaching Greater Heights improvements campaign.
BACKGROUND:
The Greensboro Children's Museum has asked the city for $250,000 in support of the Reaching Greater Heights campaign. This is a $3 million campaign to fund construction for an outdoor play plaza, improvements to the exterior, an outdoor classroom, the addition of an interior water feature, as well as hands-on technology features for coding and robotics. The museum has received pledges of $2.6 million to date.
The museum is asking the City to contribute funds in 2016 and 2017 to help the Museum borrow less money for the construction of Phase 1 (already underway) and to be able to install the interior water feature by spring/summer. The museum has requested to receive $100,000 before year-end and the remaining $150,000 during 2017.
The Children’s Museum is within what has been referred to as the Cultural District downtown. This area has demonstrated many public/private partnerships that yielded assets such as LeBauer Park, Cultural Arts Center, Greensboro Historical Museum and the Van Dyke Performance Space.
The $250,000 capital campaign request is separate from the museum’s annual request for operating funds being submitted through the Community Partners Board annual funding request process.
BUDGET IMPACT:
N/A
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
It is requested and recommended that the City Council adopt the attached resolution supporting the use of $250,000 in Parks and Recreation bond funds.