Boston Children’s Museum to Commence Work on Phase 1 of Visionary Flood Resiliency Plan
New Balance Donates Gift Of $7 Million to Fundraising Campaign
BOSTON, MA—July 15, 2026—Boston Children’s Museum has announced it will commence Phase 1 of their Flood Resiliency Plan this summer. The expansive project will serve as a model for the protection of Boston’s historic buildings and surrounding communities from future flooding threats.
In 2018, following two major storms, Boston Children’s Museum recognized a harsh reality. In its position on the Fort Point Channel, the Museum occupied one of the most vulnerable locations in Boston to flooding as a result of rising sea levels and the increasing velocity of storms. Led by a Board Task Force and Museum leadership, an anonymous initial grant was utilized to hire Sasaki and several engineering firms to assess the vulnerability and develop a plan that would protect not only the Museum, but the Fort Point neighborhood and other areas of Boston. Once the plan was conceived, the question was how to fund it.
At the outset, the Museum knew that they were seeking funds before most potential donors were even aware of the specific threats or even considering their commitment to climate change initiatives in the non-profit sector. Museum leadership spent many months meeting with potential supporters at all levels to help them understand the challenges the beloved cultural institution was facing. New Balance stepped forward early and pledged $7 million to support the project.
“We are deeply grateful to the Davis Family and New Balance who have made this work possible, and we know that the thousands of children who visit us are deeply grateful, too,” said Carole Charnow. “We hope our plan will be an inspiration to other entities who are seeking to protect their buildings and valuable cultural resources and we would be happy to share what we’ve learned!”
The resultant Waterfront Masterplan, encompassing three phases, includes multiple initiatives to protect the Museum’s 135-year-old building, a verdant waterfront park with access for children and families to Boston’s Harbor, and multiple improvements to the Museum’s visitor amenities. In a period of 2 years, $14.6 million has been raised to complete Phase 1 of the Project, which will commence in July.
“This project means a lot to me, not only because I serve on Boston Children's Museum’s Board, but also because I'm a mom of two young kids. I've seen firsthand how special the Museum is for families and the role it plays in helping children learn, explore, and just have fun together. The waterfront project is about making sure the Museum is here for future generations,” said Kassia Davis, founder of apparel brand KADA, CEO and Executive Chairwoman at P.F. Flyers and Trustee of the New Balance Foundation. “It's an investment in protecting a place that means so much to our community and preserving the experiences families enjoy every day. I'm incredibly proud that New Balance has committed $7 million to help move this effort forward.
Working with the City of Boston, the Museum has now received approval from the Landmarks Commission for its plan which, along with the installation of deployables provided by the City, will protect the Museum and surrounding buildings from flooding for at least two decades. As the Army Corps of Engineers is now studying how to protect the entire Harbor, it is hoped that Phases 2 and 3 of the Museum’s plan will be able to integrate with other measures to ward off the effects of the rising tides.
“The City of Boston is committed to protecting our most vulnerable neighborhoods, institutions, and infrastructure from rising sea levels and coastal flooding," said Brian Swett, Chief Climate Officer for the City of Boston. "Boston Children's Museum is not only a beloved cultural institution in our city but also a resilience leader on our coastline. We appreciate their partnership as we advance projects that will help protect the entire neighborhood."
As Boston Children’s Museum is a highly valued educational resource for millions of children and families, it is critical that it is open and available for years to come.
Children's Museum
Boston Children’s Museum engages children and families in joyful discovery experiences that instill an appreciation of our world, develop foundational skills, and spark a lifelong love of learning. More information about Boston Children’s Museum can be found at www.BostonChildrensMuseum.org. Like us on Facebook and follow us on LinkedIn.
Hours and Admission
The Museum is open Wednesday–Monday (Closed Tuesday) from 9:00am–4:00pm. Advance tickets/reservations are highly recommended, especially during weekends, holidays, and school vacation weeks. Adults, $24, children (1-15) and senior citizens, $24; children under 12 months and Museum members are always free.
About New Balance
New Balance, headquartered in Boston, MA, has the following purpose: Independent since 1906, we empower people through sport and craftsmanship to create positive change in communities around the world. New Balance employs 14,000 associates around the globe, and in 2025 reported worldwide sales of $9.2 billion. New Balance owns five athletic footwear factories in New England and one in Flimby, U.K. New Balance MADE U.S. footwear contains a domestic value of 70% or more and makes up a limited portion of New Balance’s U.S. sales. To learn more about New Balance, please visit newbalance.com for the latest press information visit newbalance.newsmarket.com.