On Friday, June 3, Grey Roots Museum and Archives officially cut the ribbon on their newest gallery. The Zooz’s Place Children’s Gallery, sponsored by Fairmount Security Services, is designed to appeal to children of all ages, with hands-on toys and activities, a bright friendly atmosphere, and beautiful murals featuring an immersive forest scene.
The new gallery was originally conceived in 2019, when Fairmount Security Services approached Grey Roots with an offer of funding to develop a children’s gallery. The Museum, recognizing the benefits such a space would offer families in the community, eagerly began developing the concept for the space. Closures related to COVID-19 kept the project from truly gaining steam until mid-2021, and the final touch, a whimsical banner declaring “Zooz’s Place Children’s Gallery” was installed in April 2022.
“It’s nice to see the building phase of the project conclude, so now the fun can really start,” said Thomas Wheildon, Chief Executive Office at Fairmount Security. “With Zooz’s Place, we now have an interactive space at Grey Roots where children can really get their hands on things. It’s a win/win for everybody, especially the children.”
A hands-on, child friendly approach was being followed for the launch event. Festivities began at 10:30 a.m., with activities for children led by Tammy Cruickshank, EarlyON Early Literacy Facilitator. Once remarks and the ribbon cutting concluded, visitors enjoyed complimentary ice cream cones and crafts led by Grey Roots staff. With local schools closed for a PD day on Friday, the Zooz’s Place Launch Celebration was a fun-filled way for children and families to start the weekend.
