BREC, Knock Knock Children’s Museum seek public input

As fundraising efforts continue, BREC and Knock Knock Children’s Museum are holding an open house Tuesday to get public input as they bring the vision for the estimated $14 million project into clearer focus. “We’re going through design development now, which means we’re taking the master plan and the grand vision, and we’re starting to boil it down to what we can do in this first phase,” says Ted Jack, BREC assistant superintendent of planning, operations and resources. “In the master plan there were a lot of options, and what we’re looking for now is a sense of which exhibits and features people feel most strongly about.” Roughly $5 million for the children’s museum has been raised to date, says Kelli Harton, chair of the museum’s board of directors. Jack says $3 million of that is coming from BREC, a partner in the project. Another $365,000 is earmarked for the museum in the state budget, he adds, and additional state funds are also being sought. The museum will be located in the City-Brooks Community Park, on the hill nearest Interstate 10 westbound. The 30,000-square-foot facility will feature 12 to 15 exhibits, with an aim of delivering “extraordinary learning experiences through child-directed play.” Jack says a second open house will be held in the next four to six weeks. Tuesday’s meeting takes place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at BREC’s administrative offices, 6201 Florida Blvd. For more info on the project, visit its website here. —Steve Sanoski