Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – Members of the Jonesboro city council heard an update on the upcoming NEA Children’s Museum during their Tuesday meeting.
Museum leadership announced the project in November 2023. The museum will feature numerous exhibits, including weather, agriculture, the human body, and more, as well as a low-sensory area. It is expected to draw 77,000 people annually.
The project is estimated to cost between $10 and $12 million, with the goal for it to be located in downtown Jonesboro. Museum president Jordan Carlow told council members that construction is estimated to begin in fall 2027, with the goal of opening in fall 2028.
| ADD US ON GOOGLE NEWS: Click here to see more local news from Jonesboro Right Now
During her presentation, Carlow requested the city donate or lease property located at 215 W. Monroe Ave., which is the location of Winter Wonderland, a walk-through holiday-themed museum that opens during the Christmas season. Ideally, Carlow said, this agreement would be solidified before the fall season in order to maintain the project’s timeline.
“This partnership from the city will allow us to move forward in our project, be located in downtown as desired, and dedicate valuable funding from land and parking costs to our construction,” Carlow said. “We think this is the best option because it will be easy for families to enjoy all of downtown during one museum visit.”
Carlow added that if the property were leased or donated to the museum, it would be used all year, as opposed to just during the holiday season. She also noted that Winter Wonderland would be incorporated into the museum’s operations each year “at no cost to the community” if the city decided to give the museum the property
If the museum cannot raise the remaining funds for construction, Carlow said, then the Monroe Avenue property would be returned to the city.
“We will not move forward with demolition or construction unless we can agree upon a certain percentage of funds that is raised prior to building new construction,” she said.
If the city were to consider donating or leasing the property, that action would be determined via a resolution, which the full council would then vote on, Mayor Harold Copenhaver said. He requested that council members contact him with any questions or concerns about the proposition, which will be further discussed at a later date.
Carlow also provided council members with an update on the museum’s funding. When plans were announced, Arkansas Tourism awarded the project a grant, which the city and the Jonesboro Advertising and Promotion Commission matched for a feasibility study. Another $80,000 for exhibits was funded through Jonesboro Unlimited.
Leadership hosted its first fundraiser in 2025, which raised $40,000 for the project, with another fundraiser in the works.
Museum leadership is also looking into various long-term, low-interest financing options, and Carlow noted that it had secured five years of debt service with two partners she said would be disclosed at a later date. The museum is looking into various sponsorship opportunities.
“All raised capital will go towards our debt service for early payoff. Once 50% is secured, we will submit our match grants, our philanthropic state and federal funders, and our operational fees will fund 60%, and 40% or less will be supplemented by donations, fundraising and grants,” Carlow said.
| DAILY BRIEF: Sign up for the Jonesboro Right Now Daily Brief Newsletter
