MATTHEWS, NC (April 14, 2026) – Discovery Place invites the Matthews community and neighboring communities to join two upcoming listening sessions to help shape the future Discovery Place Kids museum. Open to the public, these sessions will give local families and community members a chance to share what they’d like to see in their children’s museum. 

“Community voices are essential to creating a museum experience that truly reflects Matthews,” said Dr. Nikki Hill, Chief Learning Officer at Discovery Place. “These listening sessions are an opportunity for families to share what matters most to them, from the types of exhibits they’d like to see to the ways they want to learn and play together. We’re excited to partner with the community to create something meaningful, inclusive and uniquely Matthews.” 

The listening sessions will be held: 

• Tuesday, May 12, 3:30–5:30 p.m. 
  Matthews Elementary School | 200 E McDowell St, Matthews, NC 28105 
• Wednesday, May 13, 6–8 p.m. 
  Matthews Town Hall | 232 Matthews Station St, Matthews, NC 28105 

In February 2025, the Town of Matthews and Discovery Place announced plans to bring a new Discovery Place Kids museum to the area. The museum will be co-located with the future rebuilt Matthews Elementary School, with the Town providing the building space and Discovery Place overseeing the upfitting and operation of the museum. 

The new museum will expand access to hands-on learning experiences and high-quality educational opportunities for local families. Experiences at the museum will be developmentally appropriate for children from birth to age 10, including interactive exhibits, programs and environments that amplify STEAM education. 

While planning is well underway, the project remains in development, with community input serving as a critical component of the process. Community members are encouraged to attend one of the sessions and share their ideas and feedback to help bring this vision to life. For more information, visit https://dpkmatthews.org/.  
 
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About Discovery Place 
Discovery Place is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the leading hub for science learning in the Carolinas dedicated to the exchange of ideas, scientific exploration and creative expression to stimulate innovative problem-solving and learning. Discovery Place’s network includes four distinct museum experiences—Discovery Place Science, Charlotte Museum of Nature (currently under construction), Discovery Place Kids-Huntersville and Discovery Place Kids-Rockingham. For more information about Discovery Place, visit discoveryplace.org.