Green Mountain Children's Museum drops out of Burlington's Moran plant redevelopment

Green Mountain Children’s Museum (GMCM) announced today that it is withdrawing from the Moran redevelopment project on Burlington's waterfront.
“We are disappointed to have to make this decision. GMCM continues to support the Moran project and firmly believes it will be a tremendous asset to the entire region,” commented Mia Graham Beer, GMCM Board Chair. “Together, the City and GMCM have worked diligently to develop a financial scenario that would make GMCM’s continued participation in the Moran feasible. The City has done a good job of holding down project costs, however, the economic climate has changed since the project began and there are many variables beyond either party’s control. As a start-up non-profit, it is especially vital that we acknowledge those changes. We have therefore decided to seek an alternate location.”
Vermont is one of only six states in the country without a children’s museum. Since 2003, volunteers for the Green Mountain Children’s Museum have sought to change that. GMCM has done extensive research to identify what makes a children’s museum a sustainable and valued community resource. GMCM will maintain a presence at various events throughout Northern Vermont while continuing to seek an alternate location in downtown Burlington. “We are confident in our ability to raise the funds required to establish a children’s museum in an alternate location” commented Beer.
“On behalf of the GMCM Board of Directors, I’d like to thank Mayor Kiss, CEDO, David White, the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center, Ice Factor, and the Burlington City Council for including us in this process. We urge the community to continue its support of the City’s efforts to make the Waterfront a year-round destination,” stated Beer.
GMCM invites the young and young at heart to experience the wonders of hands-on exploration. Its mission is to spark imaginations and create an environment where playing and learning go hand in hand. Individuals interested in volunteering their time and talents to this effort can contact the Green Mountain Children’s Museum at www.gmcm.org.
Source: Green Mountain Children’s Museum. 11.5.2009
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