Westchester County has proclaimed today – Wednesday, May 1 – Westchester Children’s Fitness Day in honor of “Fit City,” a new exhibit that the Westchester Children’s Museum has unveiled at its historic Playland amusement park locale in Rye. The show, sponsored and co-developed by White Plains Hospital, is an interactive exploration of healthy choices for mind and body.
Among those who were scheduled to take part in today’s 9:30 a.m. opening were County Executive George Latimer and/or Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins; Westchester County Legislator Catherine Parker; Thomas Sullivan, the museum’s executive director; Dawn French, senior vice president, marketing and community relations, White Plains Hospital; and Debra Etelson, M.D., board-certified pediatrician, White Plains Hospital.
At a time when digital devices are supplanting sports and active play among kids, “Fit City” emphasizes the importance of physical activity and nutrition in a playful manner. At the “Training Facility,” children and adults can try interactive games, such as “Stretch & Flex” and “Pump it Up.” At the “Spoonful of Sugar Grocery” you can learn about healthy nutrition and make informed choices about sugar intake at the installation’s self-checkout. And at “Mindball Park,” visitors can challenge their mental abilities by controlling a metal ball using EEG technology to improve cognitive skills with a calm, focused mind.
The show opens at a time of dramatic growth for the museum. Under Sullivan’s leadership this past year, the number of memberships tripled, while annual visitation increased to 79,000 — more than in any year since the museum opened in 2016. In the month of January alone, the museum welcomed almost 12,000 visitors, compared to just 1,000 in January 2023, a 12-fold increase. Additionally, the museum has a new professional staff, 14 new hands-on exhibits, drop-in programming twice a day and monthly Big Weekend Events.
The museum is looking ahead to increasing its effect on the region with the launch of its unprecedented financial access membership program, reducing the cost of membership to hundreds of deserving families. It’s also set its sights on installing new exhibits, launching new partnerships with community businesses and organizations, such as the “Fit City” collaboration with White Plains Hospital, and fulfilling its potential as a cultural and educational hub.
For more, visit https://www.discoverwcm.org/.
