Discovery Park of America has announced that the museum and heritage park in Union City, Tennessee, will participate in the Museums for All program beginning in January 2023. Individuals or groups of four participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can present an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card at the Discovery Park ticket counter and receive complimentary general admission tickets for that day.
This initiative of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is administered by the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM). The program aims to ensure that all children and adults have access to high-quality museum experiences.
“Providing access to a world-class educational facility was the vision of our founders, the late Robert and Jenny Kirkland, when they decided to build a state-of-the-art museum and heritage park in rural Northwest Tennessee. The Museums for All program aligns nicely with our mission to inspire children and adults to see beyond,” said Dr. Emalee Buttrey, Discovery Park’s director of education, programming and museum experience. “Our goal is for those who visit to leave Discovery Park having experienced something new that ignites a lifelong desire to learn more. The decision to participate in the Museums for All program will allow us to welcome a greater number of guests by eliminating financial barriers and increasing accessibility.”
Several research studies from the museum field show that early access to informal educational opportunities, like those offered by museums like Discovery Park, has a positive effect on children’s development and academic performance. As a result, IMLS and ACM partnered to launch the Museums for All initiative in 2014 in service to both organizations’ strategic goal of providing greater access to museums for all children and adults. Thanks to the success of the program, free and reduced admission is available today to eligible members of the public at more than 1,000 museums and other institutions across the country.
Visitors to Discovery Park experience the visual, literary, music and performing arts; interactive STEM exhibits; opportunities to learn about the cultural heritage of the region and more. This is achieved by convening public programs and interactive learning opportunities and the presentation of exhibits and live performances.
Discovery Park of America is located at 830 Everett Blvd., Union City. It is open to the public on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Call 731-885-5455 for additional information.
More information about planning a trip to Discovery Park can be found at
discoveryparkofamerica.com/visit. A complete list of museums participating in the free admission program can be found at museums4all.org.
