CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OPPOSE METHADONE CLINIC BEFORE CITY COUNCIL

The proposal to locate a methadone clinic in downtown Champaign met another
group of opponents -- the representatives of the Orpheum Children's Science
Museum -- at the Champaign City Council study session last night.

The proposed location of the clinic would be across the street from the
museum, a haven for local elementary school field trips, and some museum
officials fear the negative stigma of the clinic might scare away their
clients.

"It's as much a perceived risk as it is a real one," said the museum's
executive director Carolyn Baxley. "We are concerned that everything we
worked so hard for may be put into question."

The Rev. Robert West of Champaign said the clinic should consider moving to
a location on Wright Street, which he said would be closer to many of the
clinic's clients. Sheri Rush of Champaign agreed the clinic should be
nowhere near the museum. "I don't think anyone questions that these people
need help, but I think they need to find a different location," she said.

The museum was at the meeting in support of an agreement with the city that
would lease one lot north and one lot south of the museum for no charge.
Council unanimously passed the lease agreement in a straw poll.

The south lot, 342 N. Neil St., which the museum currently uses for outdoor
exhibits, will be leased to the museum for 50 years free of charge. Baxley
said that this sort of deal involving children museums is actually the
norm. The south lot is now home to a sand pit where children can dig for
dinosaur bones.

The north lot, 13-15 E. Washington St., will be leased to the museum for
five years in exchange for maintenance costs. The lot will be used for bus
parking and for storage of old exhibits. The extra space is needed, Baxley
said, as they prepare for a $1.5 million expansion of the museum.

"This serves a public purpose with land that has questionable marketability
and currently has no use for the public," said council member Mike LaDue.