FRANKFORT, IL — After the announcement that KidsWork Children’s Museum will be moving out of Frankfort to New Lenox, Mayor Keith Ogle shared information about meetings and communications the Village had with the museum.
“There has been a lot of discourse and a lot of disinformation surrounding the KidsWork Children’s Museum and their announcement that they’re moving to New Lenox,” Ogle said during Monday’s Village Board meeting.
Ogle asked Village staff to compile facts and the timeline, and said that the Village had a meeting with the museum in November.
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“They were exploring their options, and they said they would be meeting with the Frankfort Park District, the Frankfort Square Park District, and also with Will County,” Ogle said.
Ogle said his understanding at that time was that the museum wanted to be full-time government employees, with pensions and benefits.
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“This is many years that we’ve talked with KidsWork Museum about this,” he added.
The KidsWork Children’s Museum has been located in the Trolley Barn, 11 S. White St., since 2007.
In January, Ogle said the museum met with a committee of Frankfort Park District. From the minutes of that meeting, Ogle said it states that the museum was there to discuss their vision to merge with the park district.
On March 8, Ogle said he spoke with the Village Trustees, confirming that they wanted the museum to make a presentation in front of the Board.
“I then confirmed by email with KidsWork that they would be here on April 12,” Ogle said.
Then, on March 23, an article about the museum’s move to New Lenox was published on Patch.
“The Village and I were disappointed, and blindsided by this announcement,” Ogle said. “And I believe the park district probably was as well.”
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Ogle said he spoke with the Museum president the next morning, and asked them to honor their commitment to come in front of the board in April.
“Unfortunately, on March 27, the New Lenox Village Board voted to approve purchasing 2.8 acres for $600,000 and building a $4 million building,” Ogle said.
The Village of New Lenox will build a 12,000-square-foot facility at the entrance to the New Lenox Commons, set alongside Route 30. Plans also include a 4,200-square-foot, outdoor interactive play and picnic area for families.
Ogle said the good news is, that the museum will only be a few minutes away in New Lenox.
“The Lincoln-Way area will continue to benefit from this expansion, and we will be able to share this wonderful experience in ways that would not have been possible otherwise,” Ogle said.
Ogle said there was simply not enough space in the downtown to support the museum’s expansion and growth.
“There will be other opportunities to replace that space, and there have already been inquiries,” he added.
Representatives from the museum will still attend the Village’s Committee of the Whole on April 12.
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