Renovations Announced For Brooklyn Children’s Museum In Crown Heights, Brooklyn

The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and the New York City Department of Design and Construction have announced the start of a renovation project for the Brooklyn Children’s Museum at 145 Brooklyn Avenue in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. This project aims to rebuild the museum’s retaining walls and modernize its courtyard and terraces, creating 20,000 square feet of accessible outdoor space for young visitors and their families. The $15 million project will be funded by the Mayor’s Office, City Council, and the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office.

This renovation addresses pressing infrastructure needs for the structure, particularly in the museum’s aging retaining wall system, which was built in the 1970s and has exceeded its useful life. The reconstruction of this wall will restore access to currently unusable areas, allowing for expanded outdoor programming and exhibits.

Rendering of Brooklyn Children’s Museum’s new accessible outdoor area. Courtesy of Gans and Company/NYC DDC

The renovated outdoor spaces will include garden resting areas, climbing paths, group meeting spots, and a wash station. The project will introduce a variety of new greenery, including 41 trees, 20 plant species, and over 800 shrubs. Additionally, new landscape irrigation, drainage systems, stormwater management, and outdoor lighting will be installed. Work on the project is expected to be completed by winter 2025.

“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, president and CEO of Brooklyn Children’s Museum. “We’re excited for this to a transformative space where children and families can connect with the world right here in their own community.”

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