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Additions are coming to Sioux Falls Washington Pavilion

Washington Pavilion
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https://www.washingtonpavilion.org/attractions/science/current-exhibits/room-grow

The Washington Pavilion announced on Wednesday afternoon its plans to add an interactive water experience exhibit.

The new water exhibit will be on the second floor of the Kirby Science Discovery Center and replaces their current “Room to Grow” exhibit.

Kerri DeGraff is the Chief Operating Officer with Washington Pavilion Management. She said the new immersive water experience will be fun for the whole family.

“This new water experience, you will not get your kids to leave. It is going to be so much fun and I actually think your going to have some adults who are going to be coming and playing and having fun as well,” DeGraff said.

Madelyn Grogan is Director of Education with Washington Pavilion Management. She said the new exhibit will have a large variety of water activities.

“Features such as a whirlpool where children can place balls and watch them twirl to the bottom. Clouds that rain down into our water table. A water wall that has wheels and levers that change the outcome of water flow every time they visit. A fog mushroom and build-a-fog where kids can experiment with different stages of water,” Grogan said.

The new exhibit was made possible last July through a donation to the Washington Pavilion by Patricia Knutson. She gifted the Washington Pavilion $1.2 million designated for the Kirby Science Discovery Center.

Washington Pavilion Management said the water exhibit is expected to cost approximately $400,000. The remainder $800,000 of Knutson's gift will fund future projects in the Kirby Science Discovery Center.

Construction on the project will begin in May. The current exhibit will close during construction. The new exhibit is expected to open in June.

Evan Walton is an SDPB reporter based in Sioux Falls. Evan holds a Master’s in English Literature from Southern New Hampshire University and was honorably discharged from the United States Army in 2015, where he served for five years as an infantryman.