Commission approves MODS/New World Aquarium to manage new Marine Science Center at Sullivan Park

The City Commission on July 8 unanimously approved a management agreement with New World Aquarium, an affiliated nonprofit of the Museum of Discovery & Science (MODS), to operate a new 5,000-square-foot Marine Science Center at Sullivan Park.

What the agreement does: Under the contract New World Aquarium will manage day-to-day center operations, deliver exhibit design and programming and lead fundraising for the interior exhibit build-out. The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) will provide the capital building funding (CRA staff cited an $8.1 million construction allocation) and will retain project oversight during construction. MODS/New World will be responsible for operations and program revenue; the CRA will cover any capped potential operating deficits in the early years and will maintain the building during warranty; ownership is anticipated to transfer to the city after CRA stewardship in 2028—2029.

Attendance and economics: Staff and the MODS presentation included a business-plan projection that estimated the center could welcome about 26,000 visitors annually and operate on approximately $600,000/year of operating cost in steady state. Staff said the plan projects a modest local economic benefit from visitors; MODS staff also described its countywide reach (approximately 500,000 visitors annually at the main museum) and school-field-trip experience and said the partnership will bring museum marketing channels and visitor referrals.

Fundraising and naming rights: MODS said it will lead the remaining fundraising to complete exhibit installation and that the museum will offer a range of donor opportunities. Staff said MODS agreed to an enhanced marketing package for Deerfield Beach promotion valued by staff at roughly $540,000 across IMAX and MODS channels (ads, displays, newsletters and social media) to drive visitors to the new center.

Parking and operations questions: Commissioners and members of the public asked about parking, bus routing for school groups and operational capacity. Staff noted the park contains about 66 public parking spaces, that 11 spaces will be available under the new building and roughly a dozen additional spaces will be available nearby once construction trailers are removed. MODS said most school visits are scheduled, not ad-hoc, and the organization will manage bus timing to stagger arrivals and avoid peaks.

Vote: The commission approved the management agreement with unanimous roll-call votes. The motion authorized execution of the agreement and the waiving of a competitive solicitation requirement in the procurement code for a community redevelopment project.

Next steps: Staff will finalize the exhibit design and continue the MODS-led fundraising drive to raise the remaining $2.1 million needed for exhibit build-out; construction is already underway and staff reported a concrete pour milestone scheduled for mid-July.