Farewell from the Des Plaines Children’s Museum
We want to express our gratitude to the Des Plaines community for the interest and support you’ve shown for the Des Plaines Children’s Museum (DPCM) over the past two years. Since our journey began in July 2023, our vision was to create a play-based daytime attraction for families that celebrated our local community in downtown Des Plaines.
Today, we are announcing that after careful consideration, the DPCM Board has made the difficult decision to dissolve the organization. After thoroughly assessing the current economic challenges facing nonprofits—challenges that do not appear to have a short-term resolution—we concluded that this step is necessary.
While we are heartbroken that we could not fully realize our mission, we take pride in the positive impact we have made. DPCM sparked a meaningful conversation within the community about the importance of creating public spaces that support and celebrate Des Plaines residents. We remain hopeful that this momentum will continue, and that the desire to build community-focused attractions will inspire new ideas moving forward.
Although DPCM will not take shape as originally envisioned, we encourage the City of Des Plaines to continue exploring opportunities to create family-friendly gathering places downtown. The recent January 2025 consultant’s report highlighted a strong desire for such spaces. We believe that a free children’s museum operated by the City or the incorporation of play-based activities and learning opportunities into new outdoor gathering areas would be an incredible way to showcase the identity and values of Des Plaines—both for local families and visitors from surrounding communities.
We are grateful for everyone who believed in our mission and supported our efforts. Your passion and dedication to building a vibrant and welcoming downtown have inspired us every step of the way.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us. We look forward to seeing how Des Plaines continues to grow and thrive as a community-centered city.
With heartfelt gratitude,
The Des Plaines Children’s Museum Board