Grand Opening Set For KidsWork Children's Museum In New Lenox

NEW LENOX, IL — The wait is almost over for fans of beloved KidsWork Children's Museum.

The grand opening of the newly erected, 12,000-sq. ft. building at the entrance to the New Lenox Commons is set, the Village announced Monday.

The doors at 375 Veterans Parkway will open to all Oct. 13, with a members-only preview in the days prior.

"The Village is excited for the long-awaited children’s museum to be open to the public," Mayor Tim Baldermann said. "This brand-new experience features top of the line, interactive exhibits that will allow for a quality learning and playful experience for children up to 10 years old."

The opening comes a year and a half after the announcement that the interactive museum—housed in Frankfort's Trolley Barn since its opening in 2007—would be moving to New Lenox. With attendance of nearly 40,000 per year, the museum is in need of more space to accommodate its growing audience, officials said.

"A board of directors made up entirely of volunteers and an executive director led the museum through a successful 17 years, but as the museum's attendance continued to grow, it became clear that it was time for an evolution," the website reads. "After much consideration, communication, and due diligence, a new partnership with the Village of New Lenox came to fruition in the Spring of 2023, bringing with it new opportunity for KidsWork and ushering in the next chapter of the museum's story."

The building also features a 4,200-square-foot, outdoor interactive play and picnic area for families.

Construction of the new museum was projected to cost $4 million, and the project stayed on-budget, Mayor Tim Baldermann said. Building and exhibit costs, plus the land purchase, total $6.5 million, Baldermann said.

"The mission of KidsWork Children's Museum is to bring children, families, and the community together to engage in fun, hands-on, interactive play so as to nurture life-long learning and discovery," New Lenox officials said.

The museum will embody community in the broadest sense of the word, both in how it serves as a community for its members and guests as well as in how it celebrates all the people and places around us. Accessibility and inclusivity will also be at the forefront of the new museum, allowing everyone who visits to feel a sense of belonging and empowerment. The new exhibits will build on the successful concepts at the existing museum while adding even more STEAM -focused activities and learning opportunities, giving the added benefit of extending the fun to older children, too. These fresh, innovative exhibits will continue to provide children the landscape and tools they need to learn and discover through hands-on play.

—KidsWork Museum officials

New exhibits include:

• Hometown Harmony, which "introduces visitors to all the heroes that make everyday life run."
• Worldwide Wonders, where "visitors explore different countries through learning about elements of culture."
• Adventures in Motion: Visitors use hands-on experimentation to see, hear, and feel physical forces and are empowered to control them. This open-ended play allows children to problem solve, prototype, test, and iterate as they try out the scientific method and take on increasing challenges each time they visit.
• Reach for the Stars: Visitors leave the earth behind to explore the moon and the rest of our solar system. Children learn about their place in the universe along with using problem solving skills, imaginative play, and gross motor skills.
• Outdoor Odyssey: Visitors head outside to the Outdoor Odyssey area, where they can get their energy out and use their gross motor skills while climbing and playing, and they will find plenty of opportunities to get their hands dirty, too.

From Tuesday, Oct. 8, until Saturday, Oct. 12, members can make a reservation to be among the first to play and learn at the new facility. Admission will continue to be free with membership, but advance reservations are strongly encouraged to guarantee admission. If the museum reaches capacity, there may be a wait for entry. Hours for the members-only preview will be 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Also of note, memberships will be credited for the amount of time lost between the closing of the current Frankfort location and the opening of the New Lenox location. No action is required on the part of the member to receive this credit, officials said.

Museum hours for the official Oct. 13 grand opening will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Officials recommend purchasing tickets in advance to guarantee admission on a particular date.

Tickets may be purchased online beginning in September, with purchase information to come. Check the Village of New Lenox or KidsWork Children's Museum websites for updates.