By Judy Wilson | Associate Editor
Deerfield Beach – The city’s science marine center in Sullivan Park has been gifted $1 million by JM Family Enterprises, Museum of Discovery & Science (MODS) CEO Joe Cox said this week.
Cox spoke at this week’s Community Redevelopment Association (CRA) meeting to talk about MODS’ partnership with the city to manage the programming at the science center.
Community Redevelopment Director Mike Chen said construction of the museum could be completed in April. Then MODS will build out the interior with educational displays. Chen said city commissioners, acting as the CRA board, will have to decide on a name soon so a sign can be erected on the building at Hillsboro Boulevard and the Intracoastal.
The public has been asked to select its preference for the museum’s name from a number of choices. This week at the CRA meeting, Cox suggested that the museum’s primary donor, JM, might be considered.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the board heard Tonya Shearson from the Guy Harvey Foundation explain how the Foundation’s work – educating kids about nature and conservation – will become part of the curriculum at Deerfield Island Park. Shearson said 12 educational stations will be installed on the island and $1,000 will be donated for students’ hands-on activities at the park.
“I have been tasked with the Sullivan Park project and am so excited to be providing education for the kids,” she said.
But the highlight of Tuesday’s CRA meeting was the gifting of two Guy Harvey murals for the new science center. The renowned marine artist will design murals on the north and east walls of the exterior elevator shaft. The design is printed on a vinyl film developed by 3M that adheres to a special surface. The cost to the CRA is $4,200 for installing the art work and the board gave its unanimous consent. The final approval comes from the city’s Public Art Advisory Board.
Harvey’s work is already exhibited here. It is at the Kirk Cottrell Pavilion on the beach, installed when that structure was renovated. The cost to the CRA, at that time, was $20,000.