The Flint Children’s Museum has called its current building on University Avenue near Kettering University home since 1993, but has been considering a new location for several years. Now, the public has a chance to offer their thoughts on a potential move to downtown Flint.
The Children’s Museum currently has a survey open to collect feedback from people on a number of ideas, including a potential new location, programming, and more. The survey will be open through the end of November, and the information will be vital in determining what the future of the space could look like.
“The community feedback will play a big role in shaping the museum’s future,” said Kimberly S. Roddy, executive director of the Flint Children’s Museum. “It will help us understand what families value most — from the comfort and accessibility of the location to the layout, types of exhibits, and amenities that make visits more enjoyable. It’s also a great way to learn how the Children’s Museum can continue supporting early learning and education in meaningful ways.”
One space that the Children’s Museum is considering is the Ferris Wheel building downtown Flint. The Ferris Wheel formerly housed Ferris Furs, and was renovated and reopened in 2017. The building has since provided small office and meeting spaces for entrepreneurs, small businesses, and others over the years. It also houses Flint Prints, a printing company, and a Biggby Coffee location. It also formerly housed 100K Ideas, a nonprofit that supports entrepreneurs in bringing business ideas to life. The organization moved a few doors down to the Dryden Building in 2023. The Ferris Wheel building was purchased by Premier Security Solutions in 2021.
“We’re excited to hear what the community thinks — whether it feels like the right place, the right space, and the right fit for our future forever home,” Roddy said.
The Children’s Museum will host a community feedback session at the Flint Farmers’ Market from 10 a.m. to noon on November 10 to give the public a chance to talk directly with Children’s Museum representatives and share their thoughts on a potential location in the Ferris Wheel.
The Children’s Museum staff has maximized the space in their existing building for decades, creatively coming up with new and different exhibitions. However, the building is aging and needs some repairs and Roddy says the lease is nearing its end, so it makes sense to seriously evaluate potential new locations now.
“We’re really proud of how creatively we have used every bit of our current space to bring the museum to life,” Roddy said. “Still, having a larger or more flexible space would open up so many new possibilities — from bigger exhibits and community events to more room for hands-on learning and family activities. Our current building has served us well, but it’s aging, and our lease is coming to an end, which adds some urgency to the search. A new space would not only solve those challenges but also give us the freedom to dream bigger and design areas that truly reflect how kids and families learn, play, and explore together today.”
There currently isn’t a timeline to move. Roddy says the main priority is simply finding the right space, one that will allow the museum to continue to grow. And public feedback through the survey will help inform those longer-term needs and desires.
“We’ve been exploring options for a new location for quite some time,” Roddy said. “While we’re eager to make the move as soon as possible, our priority is finding a space that truly meets our needs and supports the museum’s long-term growth. So, while there’s no set timeline yet, we’re continuing to actively pursue the right opportunity.”
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