TOLEDO, OH (WTOL) - The Toledo Museum of Art is talking about some big changes on the horizon as it unveiled its first phase of a 15 to 20-year master plan Tuesday.
"The whole purpose of the plan is to be better not bigger," said Deputy Director with the Toledo Museum of Art Adam Levine. "A beautiful 37 acre park which will act as the gateway to our unbelievable refurbished collection."
Plans call for a new green space, and enhancing the existing gardens and grounds.
"We own 37 acres of land, but at present 26 percent of it is surface parking so a huge portion of our plan is greening those spaces and creating a large generous park which will serve as Toledo's park," said Levine.
The museum says the park will be for anyone and everyone.
The museum has a parking solution that will allow them to maintain the same parking levels. The goal is to increase accessibility and sustainability.
"The project will be a nine figure project and that is stimulus to the economy," Levine said.
Funds used for the project will mainly come through donations and gr ants from foundations. The museum is working with the architectural firm, Beyer Blinder Belle, based in New York City.
"We're very optimistic about the future," Elizabeth Leber partner with the firm said. "Less dependent on and driven by people driving and more pedestrian friendly more park like atmosphere, I think that's sort of sympathetic with the future that TMA sees for itself and for its populations."
The museum was founded in 1901. It underwent two major expansions, one in 1926 and another in 1933.
