Claris To Donate Architectural Services—

Children’s Museum Proponents Eye Fairfield Hills

By Kendra Bobowick

The concept of creating a children’s museum in Newtown recently became more concrete.

Claris Construction President Phil Clark has offered to donate his architectural services to parents raising funds for an EverWonder Children’s Museum, according to Kristin Chiriatti, who reported the news to the Fairfield Hills Authority members Wednesday, May 16. She is interested constructing up to 16,000 square feet of museum space at the site of Plymouth Hall.

Authority Chairman James Bernardi said, “I think we’re all interested.”

Claris Construction, which built the Newtown Youth Academy, is currently negotiating a lease for Woodbury Hall where its offices will relocate, and ground floor square footage will welcome a bank, and coffee shop, based on current plans. The only other location to attract a tenant in the past ten years is the Newtown Municipal Center where town offices had relocated from sites including the Edmond Town Hall.

Ms Chiriatti explained her vision to bring in as many as 100,000 visitors a year. “Financially, with donated architectural services, it makes it feasible for us.”

Authority member Renata Adler had shared her concerns that Fairfield Hills was becoming a “Claris Campus.” Mr Bernardi said to Ms Adler, “You have expressed your concerns.” To Ms Chiriatti he said, “And you have expressed that [Phil Clark] has been generous to you. There is a balance.” He added, “We wish you well. We’re on your side.” He said he hoped to soon see from them a letter of intent to lease space.

With Ms Chiriatti that night were museum supporters Karen Smiley and Johanna Hillefeld, who hopes that the town “embraces the idea.”

The women expect to fundraise for the next three years and expect that “this will all be done by private funding,” Ms Chiriatti said. While Fairfield Hills is their ideal site, she said, “If it doesn’t look feasible, we are open to other locations in town.” The museum would be “great for the campus,” Ms Smiley said.

Established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity, the museum’s mission, as stated on a flyer, “is to cultivate a lifelong love of learning in children by encouraging them to think, inquire, and wonder about the world around them through the use of hands-on exhibits and demonstrations.”

According to its website, EverWonderMuseum.com, EverWonder Children’s Museum “is an emerging children’s museum in Newtown, aimed at children through the age of 12. It will be a place where kids can learn about science, nature, and their general surroundings in a fun and playful environment. EverWonder will consist of hands-on, interactive exhibits.”

To donate to this effort or to learn more about the concept, contact info@everwondermuseum.com.

Upcoming fundraising events include Womanologie, celebrating being a woman with fun and friends on Friday, June 8, from 7 to 10 pm at Capellaro’s Grove in Bethel. The night will include guest speakers, food, drink, and more. Visit Womanologiect.com for details.