Private donors want to raise $10 million for children’s museum
A group of private citizens is willing to raise $10 million for El Paso’s future Children’s museum with the caveat that it be a stand alone facility.
“That’s not a commitment, it’s a goal,” said Eric Pearson, the President and CEO of El Paso’s Community Foundation about the multi-million dollar pledge.
El Paso voters overwhelmingly approved the Children’s Museum when they voted for the 2012 quality of life bond.
But recently, the City realized it didn’t budget enough money for the children’s museum and a cultural center voters also approved.
“With regard to the hispanic cultural center, I don’t know that there was enough money put in for that so that might be another one that’s consistent with the westside pool. The children’s museum – that probably needed more money as well,” said City Manager Tommy Gonzalez last week in an interview.
When the bond was presented to voters, the City budgeted $19.2 million for a children’s museum and $5.7 million for a cultural center.
A $10 million donation from private citizens would bring the budget of the museum from $19 million to $29 million.
Austin’s new children’s museum, Thinkery, a 40,000-square-foot facility cost $18 million so El Paso could be getting something bigger and better than that. we’re not going to settle for second best.
“We’re not going to settle for something that doesn’t have exhibitions a museum without outstanding exhibits,” said Pearson.
He added the donors, who include the Hunt family and the Fernandez family (owners of the telecommunication company, Transtelco), among others, do not want the museum to share a facility with the cultural center, something the City has been considering.
“I think these folks are in a hurry. And they’re wonderful volunteers but they want to see the two signature projects – which are the arena and the children’s museum get moving while a dollar is still worth a dollar. We could probably move more quickly if we’re prioritizing the two highest dollar projects first and getting them going,” said Pearson.
Local philanthropists have urged the city to move sooner rather than later on big quality of life bond projects to take advantage of low interest rates and avoid inflation.
Gonzalez has said having the cultural center and the children’s museum share a building could allow them to share some resources.
The City is currently seeking downtown property for the two sites but it won’t reveal which lots it’s considering lest they go up in price – when people find out the city is eying them, according to Gonzalez.
