Bucks County Children’s Museum in New Hope planning major expansion

 

The Bucks County Children’s Museum in the Union Square section of New Hope is planning to take a much larger space there, museum President and Executive Director Kelly Krumenacker confirmed today.

“We have received generous support from the Bucks County Tourism Grant Program in the amount of $15,000 for the expansion, and we have also received generous support from local families and foundations,” she said. “We hope to have the new space open by May 1, and we’ll stay open at our current location until then,” added Krumenacker.

“The new space includes a much large multipurpose area for education and parties,” she explained. “We want to serve the educational needs of the community better, and the new multipurpose room will be twice the size of the current one, offering programming from science and arts to crafts and language,” Krumenacker said.

Other additions will include a water and wind power exhibit area, and a canal exhibit that will illuminate the golden age of mule barge commerce along the Delaware Canal, according to Krumenacker.

In terms of funding, “We’ve met about 80% of our financial goals, and we welcome additional contributions by those wishing to help us grow and serve the community,” she said.

While Krumenacker was able to confirm that the museum would remain in the Union Square complex, she was reluctant to discuss the precise location of the new facility.

But a quick look at the Union Square occupant roster shows Dan Kramli’s New Hope Fitness next door moving to a new space adjacent to New Hope Karate at Logan Square around April 1 — a seemingly astute move, given the synergy a karate school might offer, along with free parking for members.

Another adjacent business, caterer Occasions, did not answer phone calls and has the message “thanks for the years” on its website.

All of which might mean that the Children’s Museum is not moving far, if at all — perhaps breaking through walls to expand from its core space. Time will tell.