Yes!  We’ve received several endorsements from organizations in the greater Grand Haven area – you can read their letters of support here.

A lot!  Here is the summary of our survey results.

And here are respondents’ complete answers to a few key questions:

• What would having a local children’s museum mean for you or the children in your life?
• How do you feel a local children’s museum would affect our community?
• What do you hope our community will look like for kids and families in 5-10 years?
• What can we do (or do more of) as a community to enhance the wellbeing of children?

Christian Glupker, MBA, Professor of Economics at GVSU, prepared an estimate of the economic impact of the Grand Haven Children’s Museum.  Read his Economic Impact Memorandum Here.

Our goal is to do this right, and good things take time.  We’re planning for the new museum to be open sometime in 2027.

We don’t know yet.  But we’re working on it.

We’d like to be in downtown Grand Haven and have had conversations with officials from the City of Grand Haven and the Downtown Development Authority, architects, and commercial realtors.

We’ve had lots of conversations over the past year and a half with educators, parents and grandparents, community leaders, and consultants.  

Educators

Sue Bays, Executive Director, Grand Haven Schools Foundation

Jonnie Bennett, Mary A White Elementary Teacher, GHAPS

Tammy Beswick, Retired Elementary Teacher, GHAPS

Danielle Bolthouse, GHAPS Teacher

Jenna Curtain, Early Childhood Educator

Lavinia Biasell, President, Spring Lake Schools Foundation

Christina Catanese, Education Specialist, GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute

Mary Jane Evink, Curriculum Director, Grand Haven Area Public Schools

Dennis Furton, Superintendent, Spring Lake Public Schools

Scott Grimes, Superintendent, Grand Haven Area Public Schools

Kate Hedrick, Spring Lake Public Schools

Jenn Jettner, Pre-K Teacher, Spring Lake District Schools

Kim Lorimer, Retired Preschool Teacher, Little Lakers

Mark R. Luttenton, Ph.D., Interim Director, R. B. Annis Water Resources Institute

Jason Passata, Director of Instructional Services, OAISD

Susan Picking, Singer/songwriter, Educator

Ryan Otter, Professor, GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute

Matt Raab, Meyer Music

Annie and Andrew Ratke, Teacher and Homegrown Program Leaders, GHAPS

Maureen Schmidt, Assistant Director of Prevention and Community Partnerships, OAISD

Alex Talmadge, 5^th Grade Teacher, Spring Lake District Schools

Sandra TenHagen, Retired Administrator, Head Start of Ottawa County

Marjorie Viveen, Retired School Psychologist, Ottawa County Parks Foundation Board

Brian Williams, High School Teacher, Pay it Forward Class, GHAPS

Jami Young, Owner, Winter Sun Schoolhouse

 

Business/Finance Professionals

Jill Argetsinger, Executive of Getting IT Done, Red Five IT

Sharon Behm, Co-Owner, Borr’s Shoes and Accessories

Madeline Brooks, Retired from NOCH Finance

Elizabeth Butler, Director of Economic Development and Strategic Directions, Grand Haven Chamber of Commerce

Bruce Decker, Branch Manager, Grand Haven PNC

Janice Dody, Retired Sales Executive Johnson and Johnson

Vicki Ellis, Director of Membership, Grand Haven Chamber of Commerce

Kristin Favreau, Owner, Peace Frogs

Joy Gaasch, Fmr. President, Grand Haven Area Chamber of Commerce

Cara Galbavi, Cara Galbavi Law

Sandi Gentry, Realtor, RE/MAX Lakeshore The Sandi Gentry Team

Laura Girard, Owner, Surf Shop

Rich Houtteman, Community Affairs manager, Consumers Energy

Steve Loftis, Owner, Snug Harbor

Dave MacKenzie, Owner, Hortech/LiveRoof/LiveWall

Carl Nelson, Owner, Pronto Pup

Deb Otte, Owner, Tlaquapaque

Lisa Sabourin, President, Employers Association of West Michigan

SCORE Muskegon Chapter, SCORE Small Business Mentorship

 

Marketing/Communications/Design/Event Planners

Matthew Burnell, Founder and CEO, ClickBid

Carla Flanders, Owner, CMF Marketing and Events

Josh Herder, New School

Don Kalisz, Owner, Kindred Marketing Agency

Amber Landis, Associate Director, International Public Affairs, AbbVie

Autumn Lunsford, Creative Strategist & Designer

Jason Piasecki, Partner + CEO, Revel

Tracy Sodini, Designer, Traci Sodini Studio

Michael Wheeler, Co-Founder, Grady’s Garden

 

Nonprofit Leaders

Mark Allen, President, Grand Haven Area Chamber of Commerce

Cindy Anderson, Founder, Tri-Cities Women Who Care

Katie Baker, Program Manager, Dorothy A Johnson Center for Philanthropy

Jennifer Boerman, Community Mental Health of Ottawa County / Thrive Ottawa

Neil Canfield, Director of Federal Relations, University of Michigan

Patrick Cisler, President/CEO, Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area

Marci Cisneros, Executive Director, Visit Grand Haven

Jenna Curtain, K-2 STEAM Teacher, Volunteer with Belding Children’s Museum

Amy Dalman, Director of Community Education, Children’s Advocacy Center

Renee Denslow, Executive Director, Bluebird Cancer Retreat

Jim Fisher, Muskegon Rotarian

Allmon Forrester, Director of Facilities, Planning, and Sustainability, John Ball Zoo

Marty Gerencer, Executive Director, West Michigan Food Processing Association

Kristin Gootjes, Deb Kalinka-Manning, Kristin Gootjes Fundraising Consulting

Tami Harvey, Board Member, NOCH, The Little Red House

Jody Herrelko, Executive Director, The Little Red House

Keith Hopkins, Hopkins Fundraising

Melissa Horton, Executive Director, Muskegon Museum of History and Science

Laura Kruisenga, President and CEO, Kennari Consulting

Robin Lane, Director of Membership, Lakeshore Nonprofit Alliance

Erica Layton, Executive Director, Tri-Cities Historical Museum

Meredith Long, Senior Program Director, Tri-Cities Family YMCA

Robert Lopez, Lilley Cares Foundation

Erin Lyon, Executive Director, Kenzie’s BE Cafe

Christine McConnellee, Former Executive Director, Girls on the Run of Southwest Florida

Chelsey McCoy, Youth Services Librarian, Loutit District Library

Leigh Moerdyke, Program Director, Prevention and Advocacy, Arbor Circle / Thrive Ottawa

Cathy Mott, Assistant Director, Muskegon Museum of Art

Melissa O’Sickey, Youth Services Librarian, Spring Lake District Libarary

Scott Rumpsa, CEO, Community Action House

Ammy Seymour, Director of Development, Harbor Hospice Foundation

Jason Shamblin, Parks and Recreation Director, Ottawa County Parks

Tamela Spicer, Senior Program Manager, Dorothy A Johnson Center for Philanthropy

Bruce Spoelman, Retired CEO, Muskegon YMCA

Brenda Stringer, Capital Campaign Director, John Ball Zoo

Steve Sucher, Board Member, Nestlings Diaper Bank

Dennis Swartout, Retired Executive Director, Tri-Cities Historical Museum

Monica Turnbull, CEO, Boys and Girls Club of Muskegon

Barbara Van Horsen, Executive Director, Momentum Center

Louann Werksma, Director, Werdwerks Communications

Travis Williams, CEO, Outdoor Discovery Center

Bill Zaske, Board President, Kent County Youth Fair

 

City of Grand Haven Officials

Ryan Cummins, City Commissioner, City of Grand Haven

Ashley Latsch, City Manager, City of Grand Haven

Karen Lowe, City Commissioner, City of Grand Haven

Kevin McLaughlin, City Commissioner, City of Grand Haven

Catherine McNally, former Mayor, City of Grand Haven

Bob Monetza, Mayor, City of Grand Haven

Char Seise, Community Affairs Manager, Central Park Place

Brian Urquhart, City Planner, City of Grand Haven

 

Legislators

Mary Judnich, Regional Manager, US Senator Debbie Stabbenow

State Representative Greg VanWoerkom

State Senator Roger Victory

 

Children’s Health Professionals

Richard Golz, Pediatrician, Port City Pediatrics

Suzanne Tanis, Executive Director, Volunteer for Dental

 

Architecture / Realty / Development

Denny Cherette, CEO, Cherette Group

John Cherette, Development Coordinator, Cherette Group

Brock Hesselsweet, Architect

Jim Horman, Principal, Progressive AE

Cindy Janes, A/E Civic Market Leader, Fishbeck

Kirsten Runschke, Owner + Founder, Senior Architect, Architektura

Magda Smoleńska, Principal, Senior Architect, Architektura

David Ten Cate, Co-Owner, Capstone Companies

Carmen Veurink, Realtor, Home Realty

 

Community Leaders

Katie Cole, Early Childhood Consultant, mWOW Macomb Community College Early Childhood Education

Jan Parmelee, Vice President, Tri-Cities Garden Club

Kristi and Chris Streng

Bill Swano, Tri-Cities Kiwanis

Nancy TenHagen, Tri-Cities Kiwanis

Josh Watson, Health Coach, Compass Health and Wellness

Gerry and Marcia Witherell

 

Children’s Museums

Dr. Kirsten Bartels, Founder, Lakeshore Children’s Museum (led effort to start a children’s museum in Grand Haven in the early 2000’s)

Bethany Bell and Tennille Adams, Board President and VP, Children’s Museum of the Magic Valley

Tim Benson, VP Museum Experience, Omaha Children’s Museum

Ainslie Brosig, Executive Director, expERIEnce Children’s Museum

Susan Cain, Ed.D, LCSW, Founder, Big Rapids Children’s Museum

Matthew Cox, Kidzibitz Exhibit Manufacturer

Daniel Fernandez-Baca, Coordinator, Museum Membership, Association of Children’s Museums

Jackie Fisher, Board Member, Muskegon Children’s Museum in former downtown Muskegon mall

Shana Grife, Board Member, Children’s Museum of Branch County

Maggie Lancaster, President/CEO, Grand Rapids Children’s Museum

Mike Long, Executive Director, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, Traverse City

Brian King, Executive Director, Betty Brinn Children’s Museum

Kristin Korendyke, Founder and Executive Director, Sandcastles Children’s Museum, Ludington

Lori Marciniak, Executive Director, Curious Kids’ Museum & Discovery Zone, St Joseph

Wendi Onuki, Executive Director, The Mitten Children’s Museum, South Haven

Eric Rembold, Senior Account Executive, Non Profit Solutions, Blackbaud

Megan Ward, Executive Director, Nido & Mariana Quebin Children’s Museum, High Point, NC

 

Parents

Meg Boertman

Allison Gosselin

Leanne Harjer

Marijana Hiatt

Faustin Jackson

Sara Jacquemin

Dr. Kate Kleaveland, MD

Brent Kowalski

Keith and Kathryn Marks

Jenny Moll

Alicia Oleszuk

Karen Primm

Melissa Rogers

Heather Rose

Kristin Rummell

Ashleigh Schuhardt

Emily Stearley

Evie Uthoven

Carmen Veurink

Jennifer Vollmer

Heather Weisenreder

Dr. Ken Ye, Primary Care Physician, Trinity Health

 

Foundations

Holly Cole, VP Grants & Program, Grand Haven Area Community Foundation

Sally Hall, Assistant Program Manager, Gerber Foundation

Holly Johnson, President, The Frey Foundation

Mackenzie Miller, Community Development Manager, Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

Emma Peterson, Director of Philanthropy, Trinity Health Foundation