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WHEREAS, for 25 years the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh has more than fulfilled its mission of providing innovative museum experiences that inspire joy, creativity and curiosity; and
WHEREAS, the Children's Museum is a spectacular award-winning facility where children and families experience joy and wonder everyday and serves hundreds of thousands of visitors each year with permanent exhibits such as Waterplay, Garage/Workshop, Attic, Theater, Studio, Backyard and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, and with recent visiting exhibits including Clifford, How People Make Things, Tough Art, Circus for Social Change, Fairy Tales of the World, Secrets of Circles, Stories of Children, and LEMURtron; and
WHEREAS, in its 25 years the Children's Museum has been awarded many recognitions for excellence, including the MetLife Foundation and Association of Children's Museums Promising Practice Award, National Science Foundation Grant Award, Society for Environmental Graphic Design's 2005 Design Award, the American Association of Museums' Gold MUSE Award, the "Edgie" award from the Association of Science-Technology Centers for its UPCLOSE partnership, and many others; and
WHEREAS, in 2006, after blending the Beaux-Arts-style Allegheny City Post Office and the Art Deco Buhl Planetarium, while preserving and enhancing the best architectural features, structure and warmth of both, with a contemporary building in between, the Children's Museum received a National Honor Award from the American Institute of Architects for its building design - the first children's museum to receive the honor; the Historic Trust National Preservation Honor Award; and a Silver LEED rating for commitment to environmental building practices; and
WHEREAS, the Children's Museum continues to celebrate the potential of "neighborhood resources" on Pittsburgh's Northside with the belief that by utilizing these resources (and linking them) the entire region will be enhanced and ultimately the focus of families in Pittsburgh will be strengthened - toward this end, the Children's Museum has spearheaded the Charm Bracelet Project in 2007, a coalition of Northside cultural institutions jointly engaged to explore how to build community on many different levels; and
WHEREAS, the Children's Museum's next step toward creating a family-friendly district will be to restore the core of the North Side by designing and revitalizing a community park at the heart of the neighborhood, improving parking for Museum visitors and members, and upgrading exhibits and programs offered to the community; and
WHEREAS, in 2007 the Children's Museum received the Rudy Bruner Gold Medal Award for Urban Excellence, and in 2008 the Children's Museum received a Western Pennsylvania Environmental Award; and
WHEREAS, the Children's Museum will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a gala event on Saturday, June 14, 2008, with Anne Lewis and Greta and Art Rooney as Co-Chairs, and Governor Edward G. Rendell as Honorary Chair;
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh, does commend and congratulate the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh on its 25 years of continued exuberant service, and declares June 14, 2008, to be Children's Museum Day in the City of Pittsburgh.