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Utility Exploration Center reopens, expands school programs and attracts tens of thousands of visitors
Summary
The Utility Exploration Center reopened April 6, 2024 after a remodel and served more than 39,000 visitors from April to December 2024, officials told the Roseville Public Utilities Commission on Jan. 28.
Brandon Mitchell, Utility Exploration Center supervisor, told the Public Utilities Commission on Jan. 28 that the center reopened on April 6, 2024 after a multi-month remodel and that attendance and program participation increased sharply following the reopening.
Mitchell said the center closed for roughly three and a half months in late 2023 to install new exhibits and reopened with a ribbon-cutting on April 6, 2024. He reported that from April through December 2024 the center served more than 39,000 visitors and that attendance in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 more than made up for the closure period.
Education programs expanded in 2024: the center continued kindergarten-through-fifth-grade programming, fully rolled out a middle-school curriculum (grades 6–8) covering water conservation, food waste and energy, and increased high-school outreach including field days and facility tours of the Roseville Energy Park and the Pleasant Grove wastewater treatment plant. Mitchell said the center served roughly 7,000 K–12 students in the most recent fiscal-year comparison and expanded after-school offerings (League of Explorers), workshops for adults and internship pathways with local high schools.
Mitchell highlighted awards and outreach: the field day program earned a CASA Excellence in Public Outreach and Education award and a 3CMA Savvy Award, and staff advised other municipal utilities on starting similar career-day programs. He described West Park High School’s new career and technical education pathway in energy, environment and utilities and noted a local student intern success story.
Community events were also active: Mitchell said Earth Night (scheduled April 17) and the Big Truck Summer series (weekly Thursdays in June) drew thousands; Big Truck Summer’s monthly total attendance was about 4,000 across four events, with waste services drawing about 1,400 visitors, electric and wastewater events drawing about 900 each, and water about 750.
Ending: Mitchell asked commissioners to visit the center and said staff will continue to expand school partnerships and career outreach.
