The Children's Museum at Oak Lawn Station

June 24,2004 Oak Lawn IL - The Village of Oak Lawn, The Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn, and a joint venture between Mid-America/Morningside Group are please to announce a cooperative effort to build a permanent home for the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn.

As illustrated by our architect, the new permanent home of the museum will be incorporated into the site plan of the proposed train station development. The Children’s Museum will occupy approximately 11,000 square feet of space on the second floor of the new commercial building. The space will be specifically designed for the Museum’s operations and exhibits.

“Oak Lawn Town Center will be enhanced by the vitality of this component to the redevelopment program.” - Kevin Dyball, Construction Manager with Morningside and for this project, acted as the contractor for the Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier.

Michael Nortman, Vice President with Mid-America stated  “We are privileged to have the opportunity to participate in the creation of a new Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn.” Kevin Dyball, Construction Manager with Morningside and for this project, acted as the contractor for the Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier. Kevin state, “I was exposed to the unbridled joy and enthusiasm that the kids experience in a interactive learning environment. Oak Lawn Town Center will be enhanced by the vitality of this component to the redevelopment program.”

The addition of the Children’s Museum to the train station development offers many benefits. The Museum will gain a brand new location built to the proper size in the Town Center. The Museum will have access to the new parking deck which will meet their needs on busy weekends. The Village gains the prestige of having a first rate attraction the heart of Oak Lawn. Under this proposal, the Children’s Museum will own this space as the result of a donation or lease it from the Village for one dollar. The ultimate financial structure will be determined jointly by the Mid-America/Morningside venture and the Village of Oak Lawn.

This joint effort between the Village, the Children’s Museum and Mid-America is only possible because of the opportunities offered by the train station development and the use of a Tax Increment Financing District.  Without this financial engine, it would be impossible to construct the proposed museum.

“We are thrilled to be part of this project,” says Executive Director Elizabeth Gelman. “At our present location, we have been overwhelmed by children and families eager to play and learn at our interactive exhibits. This expanded facility will give us the opportunity to create even more wonderful exhibits and programs and truly serve the children in the Southland area.”

“Being able to expand so quickly is like a dream come true,” says Cathy Cepican, Museum Board Chairman.  “We can’t thank the Village of Oak Lawn and the Mid-America/Morningside Group enough for including us in this development.”

Prior to this date, the proposed development in the Town Center was identified as the Train Station Commuter Parking Lot. From this day forward, the proposed development will be called “THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM AT OAK LAWN STATION.”

** For additional information concerning this Press Release, please contact Joseph J. Faber, Village Manager at 708-499-7743 or Michael Nortman at 630-954-7517.  For more information about the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn, please contact Elizabeth Gelman, Executive Director at 708-423-6709.