Kids museum to be at Pier into 2013

The Children's Museum would remain at Navy Pier until at least November, 2013 -- and possibly as long as 2025 -- under a lease extension expected to be approved Tuesday to buy the museum time to design and bankroll its controversial move to Grant Park.

The new seven-member interim board overseeing McCormick Place and Navy Pier is expected to approve the extension at its first meeting. It would give the Children's Museum until November, 2011 to decide on one of three potential departure dates: 2013, 2014 or 2025.

Until that decision is made, the Children's Museum would not be required to spend any specific dollar amount to improve its 50,000 square foot Navy Pier facility. Children's Museum spokesman Natalie Kreiger said the museum expects to remain at Navy Pier for "four or five years" before making the move to Daley Bicentennial Plaza.