The Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo (JMZ) have raised $25 million to rebuild the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo.
The current building was built in 1941 and is proving inadequate for the 19,000 children taught at JMZ and the 150,000 visitors a year.
The new Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo will better access and facilities for visitors as well as interactive exhibits.
Private donations of $10 million were matched by a $15 million grant from the Peery Foundation.
Dave Peery, Managing Director of the Peery Foundation, said, “The JMZ has a demonstrated history of teaching vital science education to generations of children, regardless of their economic background. Our family is excited to help make the new Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo a reality, and ensure it will continue to bring science alive for future generations in this community.”
It is important to us that we retain the intimate and child-like qualities of the current facility
John Aikin, JMZ Executive Director, added, “It is important to us that we retain the intimate and child-like qualities of the current facility. We will add more interactive exhibits and habitats that promote questions in young children without removing the safe environment in which they can explore.”
Final council sign off on the project is expected this summer and the new facility is scheduled to open in 2020.
https://friendsjmz.org/building-new-jmz/
