DECATUR — The Decatur City Council has approved an expansion proposal of the Cook Museum of Natural Science’s downtown campus, including large scale economic development plans to support the growing attraction and further enhance the downtown district.
“The city of Decatur’s investment along with the state’s means that this project is well on its way to becoming a reality,” said Museum President and Board Chairman Brian Cook. “We will still need much support from the North Alabama community in the days ahead as we pull together to enhance our area’s education and tourism opportunities.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to serve our community and region in this increased capacity.”
At noon today, Gov. Kay Ivey will speak at the Cook Museum of Natural Science Gratitude Luncheon. She will be joined by Cook, Cook Museum Director of Development Dr. Jeanna Payne and state Sen. Arthur Orr.
The luncheon is to celebrate the $9.5 million in state funding that was given to the Cook Museum. This follows Ivey’s designation of the facility as the North Alabama STEM Center.
With the designation, the museum’s expansion will focus on doubling existing classroom space and include a multi-purpose presentation space to accommodate the increasing number of field trips, utilizing the investment of $9.5 million from the state for that portion of the project.
An additional $20 million in private donations will fund the necessary infrastructure and expanded exhibit space, museum officials said.
In addition to more educational space, the proposed expansion includes a new parking deck across 4th Avenue from the museum and a neighboring hotel. Both are to be built on property owned by Cook’s Properties.
The expansion project is expected to generate revenue for the city of Decatur and local businesses through increased tourism, museum officials said, as well as increase public access to educational resources for the growing population of students in North Alabama.
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