UTICA, N.Y. -- Things seem to be looking up at the Utica Children's Museum.
"For 2016, we closed with 12,419 visitors, which is up from only 5,303 visitors in 2015," said Jessica Bickford-Manson, the Utica Children's Museum program director.
Last year, Executive Director Elizabeth Brando left the museum. The projects that began under her leadership are still underway.
"Back in October, [I] applied for a $2,500 small community award grant from Walmart. We just received that," said Bickford-Manson. "So that will go to improving our exploration station into a Main Street."
Another award of $2,500 will go toward a sensory exploration area, and another will allow them to have outdoor programs from February to October.
As part of a project at the museum, some of the pretend businesses in the museum are actually sponsored by real businesses, and the hope is to have more jump on board.
"We hope that we can have other businesses be able to come in and partner with us. We'd love that. We'd love to have a new business, such as a new dentist," Bickford-Manson said.
"I like when it's raining and the kids can't go out and play, I can bring them here and there's usually kids to play with," said Yorkville resident Sandra Turynowicz.
The program director said community support is essential for the museum to move forward, and some said they're happy to help.
"Just like the Utica Zoo too. I like going there too. If you want stuff to stay around, you've got to support it," Turynowicz said.
The Utica Children's Museum is open Thursday through Sunday.
To learn more information about the Utica Children's Museum, click here.