"RIOSCAPE"
A SCIENCE PLAY PARK
at
THE INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM OF ART & SCIENCE
"RioScape" (valued
at the time at
$750,000) was a gift from the Junior League of McAllen, Inc. to the
McAllen International Museum (now the International Museum of
Art & Science). The museum itself was founded by the Junior Service League of
McAllen in 1967. In 2000, the Junior League of McAllen, Inc. recruited a
labor force of more than 3,500 community volunteers who lovingly spent their
time designing, planning and building RioScape.
RioScape provides children with the
opportunity to learn about many scientific principles including water
pollution, erosion, pumping and hydropower to generate electricity.
RioScape was conceptualized by children from local
schools and designed by local science and history experts to incorporate
learning exhibits related to the Rio Grande River and surrounding
area. It's construction on
10,000 square feet of the grounds of the McAllen International
Museum required the tireless efforts of thousands of community volunteers
over the course of nine days. Over 16,000 hours of volunteer work
were completed. In addition to the sponsorship of
exhibits and the donation of materials for the park, supporters helped by
loaning work tools and providing food for volunteers as well as doing
construction and creative work.
The Association of Junior Leagues International's
BMW Community Impact Award
RioScape received the BMW Community Impact award
in 2001. This $10,000 award is granted to only one Junior League
throughout the world which has made the most significant impact through a
community project. The $10,000 was donated to the International Museum of
Arts and Sciences in McAllen for the continued upkeep of RioScape.
For More Information Contact:
Junior League of McAllen, Inc.
PO Box 3004, McAllen TX 78502
956-682-0071
Junior League of McAllen, Inc.
