New Lenox to run KidsWork museum
Village assuming operations after move from Frankfort; also planning multisport complex
The village of New Lenox is undertaking two large projects to bring a museum and sports complex with retail, restaurant and hotel businesses to the village.
The KidsWork Children’s Museum will move from the Trolley Barn in Frankfort into a larger space with new exhibits in the New Lenox Commons.
New Lenox is also in the design phase of a multisport complex near Silver Cross Hospital, according to a village news release.
KidsWork, which is the only children’s museum in Will County, opened in 2007 in a 6,500-squarefoot building in Frankfort, according to the release. The museum attracts 40,000 visitors per year so it outgrew the space.
Belinda Basso, president of the KidsWork Children’s Museum Board, said New Lenox officials offered a space to build a 12,000-square-foot facility plus an additional 4,200-square-foot outdoor play and picnic area, which was an offer museum officials “just couldn’t refuse.”
“We think that’s really great for the families, for the children. It speaks to our mission statement, which is play to learn,” Basso said.
In the Frankfort space, Basso said museum staff have to move exhibits in and out of the building. In the new museum, Basso said existing exhibits can be displayed in addition to new exhibits that focus on science, technology, engineering, art and math.
The board is planning new exhibits such as a water feature, climbing exhibits or even a soundproof room for a drumming exhibit, Basso said. The museum hasn’t had an outdoor space before, Basso said, so the board is discussing outdoor climbing areas and
garden exhibits.
“There’s a lot of ideas. There’s a lot of excitement. The board is working together on this,” she said.
Basso said a 12-member volunteer board oversees the museum’s operation. But as the museum continued to grow, Basso said it was no longer feasible for volunteers alone and the board agreed they “wanted to insulate the museum” with a government partnership.
Mayor Tim Baldermann said the museum’s executive director and part-time employees will become New Lenox employees and the board will remain as a volunteer advisory board.
“They wanted to expand and bring new exhibits in. They wanted a government entity to take over control of the museum because it’s different for a volunteer board,” Baldermann said.
Construction is scheduled to start in June with a spring 2024 opening, Baldermann said. The project will cost $4 million, he said, with the village paying $600,000 in cash for the land and construction to cost $3 million. The remaining funds will go toward new exhibits.
The village will likely issue bonds for the construction, but the revenue from the museum will more than pay for the construction, Baldermann said.
Baldermann said the museum moving to New Lenox will allow it to expand and bring more people to the village.
“It’s something that would be great for schools in the area to take field trips,” he said.
New Lenox also is under contract for 100 acres next to Silver Cross Hospital for a multisport complex, which would include eight full-size baseball fields, five soccer fields, two multisport fields and a 50,000-square-foot field house.
The complex would include a main pool with 10 lap lanes with space for open swimming, a splash pad and a 10,000-square-foot club house, officials said. The site plan has more than 10 acres dedicated for restaurant, retail and hotel space.
The site plan design will begin this year with the goal of tournament play to begin by 2025, officials said.
The village paid $8.25 million for the land, Baldermann said, using village cash reserves. The business generated through the retail, restaurant and hotels will cover that, he said, as well as tax revenue.
“This is another exciting project for the village,” Baldermann said.