CROWN HEIGHTS — A project to rebuild the Brooklyn Children’s Museum’s retaining walls and to renovate its courtyard and terraces has been announced by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) and the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC). 

The project addresses important infrastructure needs while setting the groundwork for enhancing the museum’s outdoor spaces, ultimately creating 20,000 square feet of outdoor space for young people and their families. It’s being supported by more than $15 million in city funds from the Mayor’s Office, City Council and the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office. DDC is managing the project for DCLA.

“The Brooklyn Children’s Museum was the first children’s museum in the United States, and we’re proud of the long-term public-private partnership between the city and the museum that has created this incredible resource for young New Yorkers and their families,” said Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. “Together, we can make sure the legacy and mission of BCM continues to serve New Yorkers for generations to come.”

The renovation project will reconstruct the facility’s courtyard retaining wall system, a critical piece of infrastructure that supports both the museum and the adjacent Brower Park. The existing retaining wall system, which was built in the 1970s, had exceeded its useful life and prevented a significant portion of the museum’s footprint in Brower Park from being used for public programming, according to the museum.

The retaining wall system will be rebuilt to restore access to a newly redesigned and modernized courtyard, terrace, and surrounding outdoor space. The project will create dedicated outdoor areas and space for programming and exhibits, gather and activity spaces. 

The project will also add garden resting areas, climbing paths, group meeting spots and a wash station. The new outdoor spaces will encompass 20,000 square feet and will be filled with greenery, including 20 plant species, 41 trees and more than 800 shrubs. 

It also includes new landscape irrigation, drainage, stormwater management and outdoor lighting for evening events and security.

“The Brooklyn Children’s Museum is a truly unique and wonderful cultural institution located right in the heart of central Brooklyn,” said State Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-Western Brooklyn). “I’m excited for these upgrades that will mean additional programming and better amenities. Can’t wait to bring my kids when it’s all done!” 

“We are delighted to break ground on this much-needed project that will convert the unusable outdoor space at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum into green and accessible outdoor areas for everyone to enjoy,” said Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Thomas Foley. “This project will allow the museum to offer more programming, add resting areas, and will fix the courtyard’s deteriorating retaining wall.”

“At Brooklyn Children’s Museum, we believe in the power of experiential learning to spark curiosity and ignite a lifelong passion for discovery,” said Atiba T. Edwards, the museum’s president and CEO.

The Brooklyn Children’s Museum was founded in 1899 in Crown Heights as the world’s first children’s museum. The facility serves 300,000 children and caregivers annually with exhibits and programs grounded in visual arts, music and performance, natural science, and world cultures. 

It is a member of the city’s Cultural Institutions Group, comprising 34 cultural organizations on city-owned property, and receives significant capital and operating support from the city to help meet basic security, maintenance, administration and energy costs.