Proposed repayment plan could lead to reopening of Discovery Place Nature

CHARLOTTE — A proposed repayment plan could lead to the reopening of the Discovery Place Nature Museum in Freedom Park.

The museum owes Mecklenburg County $14.6 million for construction loans.

READ MORE: Discovery Place pledges to repay $14.6 million as county weighs future

County manager Mike Bryant announced Thursday night that the Discovery Place would pay $2.7 million each November until 2030, when a total of $13.7 million is paid back.

It would also pay $1 a year under a 35-year lease agreement.

Commissioners hope this serves as a learning experience for future projects.

“We have to make sure that we don’t find ourselves in a similar situation, extending this much credit where the risk hasn’t been properly weighed,” said Commissioner Susan Rodriguez-McDowell.

The Discovery Place released the following statement on Friday:

Discovery Place and its Board of Trustees have worked tirelessly to pursue a path toward opening the world-class nature museum built for our community through a public-private partnership with Mecklenburg County.

Over the last several weeks, community and corporate leaders have stepped forward with remarkable generosity, enabling Discovery Place to fulfill its 2023 pledge to provide an additional $13.7 million (final reconciled amount) in financial support to the County for construction of the County-owned building that will house the new nature museum.

This builds on the $23.5 million Discovery Place has already raised from philanthropic sources for museum exhibits and Phase 2 construction, including the Canopy Walk and woodland nature trail.

“This generosity showcases our community at its very best,” said Stephanie Sadowski, Chair of Discovery Place’s Board of Trustees. “Our community leaders — individual philanthropists, foundations and business leaders, chose to invest in a place where children and families will connect with the Piedmont’s natural world for generations. Their generosity reflects a shared belief in the value of this museum and the difference it can make in the lives of people across our community. We are deeply grateful to them, and to our valued partners at Mecklenburg County for working with us to achieve this shared vision.”

With this community support coming into place, Discovery Place looks forward to finalizing a lease agreement with County partners that will allow the otters to move into their beautiful custom-designed habitat and museum staff to prepare for opening.

When complete, the new nature museum will be a cultural destination for our region, bringing together immersive indoor and outdoor nature experiences. Beyond being a destination for visitors, the museum will create new opportunities for learning and connection while contributing to the region’s economic vitality through job creation and tourism.

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