Local

Gov. Quinn Announces $15 Million in Public Museum Capital Gran


SPRINGFIELD–(ENEWSPF)–October 21, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today awarded nearly $15 million in grants to 51 public museums in Illinois for new and expanded facilities, exhibits and infrastructure improvements through the Illinois Public Museums Capital Grant Program.

“Illinois’ public museums are some of our most valuable teaching resources. Students learn best when they have access to the hands-on learning available in museums throughout the state,” said Governor Quinn. “These capital grants will help ensure that learning is not limited to classrooms – but that students will be able to continue visiting museums, zoos and gardens all over the state to put their lessons to practical use.”

The Public Museum Capital Grants Program is designed to assist museums in expanding and upgrading facilities and creating new exhibits to enhance the ability of public museums to meet their missions.

A total of $15 million in funding from the state’s “Illinois Jobs Now!” capital program was made available for public museum capital grants for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010.  Applications for this round of grants were accepted last spring.  The maximum grant award for qualifying projects for FY2010 is $800,000.  The level of local matching funds required for each project is based on the level of attendance at the applicant museum during the preceding calendar year.

Since the program is funded by capital development bonds, only those museums operated by or located upon land owned by a unit of local government are eligible. The program is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

A list of grant recipients, grant amounts and project descriptions is below.

Adler Planetarium-Chicago – $750,000
Sky Theater upgrade – The grant funds will be used for the construction phase of the Sky Theater renovation. (Contact Person: Kathleen Jacob-312/322-0511)

Anita Purves Nature Center/Champaign – $160,000
ADA Trail – This project will construct an ADA compliant trail connecting the Nature Center with adjacent Busey Woods Nature Preserve. (Contact Person: Judy Miller-217/384-4062)

Art Institute of Chicago – $800,000
Energy efficiency upgrade – This project will replace the HVAC system as part of an ongoing facility upgrade (Contact Person: Kevin Beck-312/443-3120)

Burpee Museum/Rockford – $300,000
New Fossil Exhibit – This project will complete a permanent Triceratops exhibit. (Contact Person: Scott Williams-815/965-3433 x1006)

Chicago Botanic Garden – $500,000
Children’s Growing Garden Exhibit – Funding will be used toward construction of a 10,000 square foot garden, teaching pavilion and horticulture support building. (Contact Person: Anya Maziak, 847/835-6896)

Chicago Historical Society – $700,000
Energy efficiency upgrade- This project will upgrade museum heating and cooling systems in the galleries and collection storage area. (Contact Person: Gary T. Johnson -312/799-2200)

Chicago Zoological Society – $500,000
Conservation Center – This project includes renovation of the current Reptile House into a state of the art center for conservation and outreach programs. (Contact Person: Sarah Breen-Bartecki – 708/688-8974)

Children’s Discovery Museum of Normal – $200,000
Renewable Energy Exhibits – This project encompasses the design, fabrication and installation of hands-on components for two exhibits (Contact Person: Shari Buckellew – 309/433-3444)

Dillon Home Museum/Sterling – $68,700
ADA Upgrades – Grant funds will be used to bring the Dillon Home Museum and parking area into ADA compliance. (Contact Person:  Doug Jacobs-815/622-6061)

Discovery Center of Rockford – $250,000
Expansion and improvement – This project will upgrade and/or replace existing exhibits and exhibit areas.  (Contact Person: Sarah Wolf – 815/963-6769)

Early American Museum/Champaign – $500,000
Education Center Addition – Phase 1 – This project will provide for an additional area for an educational classroom, collection storage/processing area, and public restroom facilities.  (Contact Person:  Cheryl Kennedy – 217/586-2612)

Elgin History Museum – $36,610
Museum Exhibits – These funds will be used to update the museums existing exhibits. (Contact Person:  Elizabeth Marston-847/742-4248)

Ellwood House/DeKalb – $150,000
ADA and Signage upgrades – This project will make improvements to the grounds of the museum by addressing accessibility issues and signing. (Contact Person:  Gerald J. Brauer – 815/756-4609)

Elmhurst Art Museum – $70,000
Restoration of Meis House – Grant funds will be used to restore the Meis/McCormick House to use as a permanent exhibition and educational program area.  (Contact Person: Stuart W. Henn – 630/834-0202 x113)

Elmhurst History Museum – $50,000
Museum Campus and Building improvements – These funds will be used to install lighted sidewalks/walking paths and make roofing improvements. (Contact Person:  Lance Tawzer-630/530-6450)

Fabyan Villa Museum/Geneva – $100,000
HVAC Control updates – This project includes installation of air-handling units throughout the building. (Contact Person: Lynn Dransott-630/377-6424)

Field Museum of Natural History/Chicago – $800,000
Energy efficiency project – This project will include purchase and installation of a new air handling unit for the museum. (Contact Person:  Deborah Bekeken – 312/665-7807)

Grand Army of the Republic/Aurora – $250,000
Interior improvements – Grant funds will be used for Phase 2 of the interior restoration of the museum building.  (Contact Person: Rena Church – 630/906-0654)

Grove Historic Landmark/Glenview – $80,000
Exhibit improvements – This project encompasses the design, construction and installation of new educational exhibits. (Contact Person: Laura Stuart – 630/513-4370)

Henson Robinson Zoo/Springfield – $200,000
Phase II Expansion – These grant funds will be used for walkway renovation and new exhibit updates. (Contact Person: Talon Thornton – 217/753-6217)

Hoosier Grove/Streamwood – $25,000
Accessibility Renovation – This project is the re-design and construction of an accessible ramp. (Contact Person: Debbie Karner – 630/483-3012)

Klehm Arboretum/Rockford – $100,000
Interpretive Signage – This project will allow for the installation of interpretative and directional signage.  (Contact Person: Jane Snively-815/965-8146)

Kohl Children’s Museum/Glenview – $50,000
Powered by Nature Exhibit – This project will allow for the construction of a new exhibit entitled Powered by Nature.   (Contact Person: Jennifer Oates – 847/832-6911)

Lincoln Park Zoo/Chicago- $83,333
Gorilla Exhibit Moat – This project includes repairs and improvements to the moat surrounding the Regenstein Center for Africa Apes.  (Contact Person:  Kimberly Montroy – 312/742-2175)

Little White School Museum/Oswego – $100,000
ADA Access and drainage improvements – This project will allow for the installation of an inclined wheelchair lift and seat lift within the museum as well as installation of new gutters and downspouts to aid in drainage issues.   (Contact Person: Roger Matile – 630/554-2999)

Lizzadro Museum/Elmhurst – $150,000
Building upgrades – This project is for the installation of a new sprinkler system as well as updated HVAC and electrical systems.   (Contact Person: Dorothy J. Asher – 630/833-1616)

Lombard History Museum – $70,000
ADA improvements – This project will allow for costs associated in making an 1870 Carriage House ADA accessible.   (Contact Person: Jeanne Angel – 630/629-1885)

Mayslake Peabody Estate /Oak Brook – $150,000
Restore Library Ceiling – This project will allow for the restoration of the library ceiling in the Mayslake Hall. (Contact Person: Chrissie Howorth- 630/206-9568)

McLean County Museum of History – $225,000
HVAC Renovation – This project will allow for the replacement of 11 old HVAC units and install new air conditioning in selected areas to allow for greater energy efficiency.  (Contact Person: Mr. Greg Koos – 309/827-0428

Midway Village Museum/Rockford – $230,000
Many Faces, One Community Exhibit – This project will allow for the creation of an immersive, interactive exhibit that explores the history of immigration to Rockford and America.  (Contact Person: David Byrnes – 815/397-9112)

Museum of Contemporary Art/Chicago – $500,000
Knowledge Center and Energy Upgrades – This project will provide for the redesign of a new museum entrance, design and construct a new Knowledge Center and upgrade chillers and lighting to gain great energy efficiencies.  (Contact Person: Janet Alberti-312/397-3801)

Museum of Science and Industry/Chicago – $800,000
Energy Planet Exhibit – This project will allow for the design and site preparation for the new Energy Planet Exhibit.  (Contact Person: Kevin Frank – 773/753-7011)

Naper Settlement/Naperville – $350,000
Joseph Nader Homestead – This project will allow for the creation of a historical interpretive site on property of city founder Joseph Nader recently purchased by the City of Naperville.  (Contact Person: Debbie Grinnell – 630/305-7063)

National Museum of Mexican Art/Chicago – $700,000
Upgrade performance space – This project will allow for the upgrade and reworking of the original performance space.   (Contact Person: Ignacio Guzman – 312/738-1503 x3940)

Peggy Notebaert Museum /Chicago – $100,000
Upgrade and enlarge exhibit space – This project will allow the museum to recapture the first-floor exhibit space and create a more direct, visible path for visitors to access the outdoor Bird Walk exhibit.  (Contact Person: Mary Snodgrass – 773/755-5132)

Peoria Park District/Peoria Zoo – $350,000
Australian Walk-About – These grant funds will be used for the construction of a new Australian walk-about and aviary.   (Contact Person: Yvonne Strode – 309/686-3365)

Pilcher Nature Center/Joliet – $600,000
Nature Center Renovation – This project will allow for the renovation of the log cabin nature center and make other necessary repairs to the roof.  (Contact Person: Debbie Greene – 815/207-6395)

Quad City Botanical Center/Rock Island – $250,000
Interactive Children’s Garden – This project is for the construction of the Mississippi River exhibit within the newly planned interactive Children’s Garden.  (Contact Person: Ami Jenkens – 309/794-0991×23)

Raupp Museum/Buffalo Grove – $46,600
Exterior Façade Upgrade – This project includes the resurfacing of the original portion of the Raupp Museum allowing for improvement of building climate control and other energy issues.  (Contact Person: Deborah Fandrei – 847/459-2318)

Rockford Art Museum/Rockford – $150,000
Museum Lighting Upgrade – This project is for the upgrading of the existing lighting systems to provide safe, energy-efficient, quality lighting that will enhance the museum’s permanent collection as well as featured exhibitions and education programs.  (Contact Person: Linda Dennis – 815/972-2878)

Sand Ridge Nature Center/Chicago – $375,000
Exhibit Restoration and Construction – This project will allow for the restoration of one prairie log cabin as well as the construction of a new replicated masonry forge.   (Contact Person: James Carpenter – 708/868-0606)

Scovill Zoo/Decatur – $250,000
ADA Accessibility – These grant funds will be used for the construction of a new ADA accessible concession stand, restrooms and hand washing stations.   (Contact Person: David Webster – 217/421-7435)

Shedd Aquarium/Chicago – $800,000
Chiller Replacement – This project will allow for the replacement of two high energy efficient chillers as well as a new cooling tower to provide more efficient cooling for human comfort as well as to maintain animal-exhibit and holding-system temperature.   (Contact Person: Madelyn Thompson – 312/692-3152)

Spring Valley Nature Center/Schaumburg – $150,000
Nature Center Exhibit Gallery – This project is the first phase of new natural history exhibits within the Natural Center to include The Oak Tree and Backyard Habitats.   (Contact Person: David Brooks – 847/985-2100)

Stephenson County Historic Society/Freeport – $70,000
Renovation of School House – This project involves the complete renovation of an early 20th century one-room school house by preserving and stabilizing the building and making it usable year round as an education venue. (Contact Person: Edward Finch – 815/232-8419)

Tinker Swiss Cottage/Rockford – $400,000
Building Acquisition and Cleanup – This project involves the purchase of the Nelson Knitting Company building and basic cleanup of the site and building.  (Contact Person: Beverly Broyles – 815/964-2424)

Virginia Theater/Champaign – $500,000
Historic Auditorium Restoration – This project will include the replacement of auditorium seating to include ADA compliance as well as paint and plaster restoration.  (Contact Person: Bobbie Herakovich – 217/819-3819)

Wagner Farm/Glenview – $138,500
ADA Improvements and Barnyard Reproductions – This project will improve visitor access as well as develop additional barnyard exhibits for interpretative and education purposes. (Contact Person: Todd Price – 847/998-5490)

Walter Heller Nature Center/Highland Park – $200,000
Lake Michigan Interpretative Center – This project involves the addition of a lakefront education and interpretive room to the planned Lakefront Pavilion at Rosewood Park on Lake Michigan. (Contact Person: Steve Meyer – 847/579-4090)

Washington Park Botanical Garden/Springfield – $300,000
Bioswale/Parking Lot System – This project will allow for the reworking of the main parking area and the construction of a Bioswale system to include interpretative signs to explain the system.  (Contact Person: Chad Scaife – 217/753-6228)

Wheaton Park District’s Cosley Zoo – $300,000
Animal Care and Conservation Center – This project involves the construction of a new American Zoological Society recommended Animal Care and Conservation Center.  (Contact Person: Rob Sperl – 630/510-4975)

 

Source: illinois.gov


ARCHIVES