Children's Discovery Museum prepares to welcome back visitors

SAN JOSE - SEPTEMBER 22: A purple mask is placed over the bill of the inflatable duck atop the Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 22, 2020. The museum is re-opening its outdoor space, Bill's Backyard, to members on Sept. 26 and to the general public in October. In preparation, the museum is adding signage and an outdoor admissions area with a scanner and plexiglass shields. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE - SEPTEMBER 22: The lookout tower at the Children's Discovery Museum is photographed in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 22, 2020. The museum is re-opening its outdoor space, Bill's Backyard, to members on Sept. 26 and to the general public in October. In preparation, the museum is adding signage and an outdoor admissions area with a scanner and plexiglass shields. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE - SEPTEMBER 22: A sign notifying people the amount of families allowed in a specific area is placed on the ground at the Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 22, 2020. The museum is re-opening its outdoor space, Bill's Backyard, to members on Sept. 26 and to the general public in October. In preparation, the museum is adding signage and an outdoor admissions area with a scanner and plexiglass shields. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE - SEPTEMBER 22: The slides at the Children's Discovery Museum are photographed in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 22, 2020. The museum is re-opening its outdoor space, Bill's Backyard, to members on Sept. 26 and to the general public in October. In preparation, the museum is adding signage and an outdoor admissions area with a scanner and plexiglass shields. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE - SEPTEMBER 22: The vine tunnel at the Children's Discovery Museum is photographed in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 22, 2020. The museum is re-opening its outdoor space, Bill's Backyard, to members on Sept. 26 and to the general public in October. In preparation, the museum is adding signage and an outdoor admissions area with a scanner and plexiglass shields. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE - SEPTEMBER 22: Netting separates areas of the gravel dig pit at the Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 22, 2020. The museum is re-opening its outdoor space, Bill's Backyard, to members on Sept. 26 and to the general public in October. In preparation, the museum is adding signage and an outdoor admissions area with a scanner and plexiglass shields. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE - SEPTEMBER 22: Hand sanitizer dispensers are placed around the Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 22, 2020. The museum is re-opening its outdoor space, Bill's Backyard, to members on Sept. 26 and to the general public in October. In preparation, the museum is adding signage and an outdoor admissions area with a scanner and plexiglass shields. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE - SEPTEMBER 22: The outdoor play area at the Children's Discovery Museum is photographed in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 22, 2020. The museum is re-opening its outdoor space, Bill's Backyard, to members on Sept. 26 and to the general public in October. In preparation, the museum is adding signage and an outdoor admissions area with a scanner and plexiglass shields. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE - SEPTEMBER 22: A sign and arrow are placed on the ground notifying people how many families can be in a specific area at a time at the Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 22, 2020. The museum is re-opening its outdoor space, Bill's Backyard, to members on Sept. 26 and to the general public in October. In preparation, the museum is adding signage and an outdoor admissions area with a scanner and plexiglass shields. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE - SEPTEMBER 22: A walkway in the outdoor area of the Children's Discovery Museum is photographed in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 22, 2020. The museum is re-opening its outdoor space, Bill's Backyard, to members on Sept. 26 and to the general public in October. In preparation, the museum is adding signage and an outdoor admissions area with a scanner and plexiglass shields. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE - SEPTEMBER 22: A moth lands on a flower in the thrive garden of the Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 22, 2020. The museum is re-opening its outdoor space, Bill's Backyard, to members on Sept. 26 and to the general public in October. In preparation, the museum is adding signage and an outdoor admissions area with a scanner and plexiglass shields. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE - SEPTEMBER 22: The tree of 40-fruit at the Children's Discovery Museum is photographed in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 22, 2020. The museum is re-opening its outdoor space, Bill's Backyard, to members on Sept. 26 and to the general public in October. In preparation, the museum is adding signage and an outdoor admissions area with a scanner and plexiglass shields. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE - SEPTEMBER 22: Accountant assistant Cindy Bullock rakes some leafs in the thrive garden at the Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 22, 2020. The museum is re-opening its outdoor space, Bill's Backyard, to members on Sept. 26 and to the general public in October. In preparation, the museum is adding signage and an outdoor admissions area with a scanner and plexiglass shields. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)

By Sal Pizarro | spizarro@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group

PUBLISHED: September 23, 2020 at 12:25 p.m. | UPDATED: September 24, 2020 at 4:00 a.m.

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All you need to see is Discovery Duck’s orange bill covered by a purple mask to know things are different at the Children’s Discovery Museum in downtown San Jose. And the giant, inflated fowl wading on the roof isn’t the only change at the Purple Museum, which is preparing to reopen to visitors this weekend.

For now, the only part of the children’s learning center that will be open is Bill’s Backyard, its relatively new outdoor space. And it’ll only be available to members for two weekends starting Saturday, Sept. 26, before the general public is allowed in starting Oct. 9.

“A children’s museum without children is not a very happy place, so we’re beyond excited to welcome back our valued members and then all visitors to Bill’s Backyard,” said Marilee Jennings, executive director of the Children’s Discovery Museum, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

To meet Santa Clara County mandates, attendance will be capped at 25 percent, plexiglass shields have been installed at the admission desks, additional hand sanitizing stations have been installed and masks are required for anyone over the age of 6. The museum has added products recommended by the CDC and the Environmental Protection Agency to its cleaning regimen. Visitors can attend play sessions in either the morning or afternoon, and there’s an hourlong cleaning and disinfecting break in between.

The museum — which expects to announce a date for reopening the interior of the museum later this fall — is the first big venue to reopen downtown, with the Tech Interactive and the San Jose Museum of Art still closed to visitors. Because visitors are limited to Bill’s Backyard, the Children’s Discovery Museum reduced ticket prices to $5 per child or adult and $4 for seniors. Get tickets and more details at www.cdm.org.

GEM OF A FUNDRAISER FOR KIDS: Geoffrey’s Diamonds — which has locations in Campbell and San Carlos — has donated $9,000 worth of diamond jewelry to be auctioned Friday night during the Healthier Kids Foundation’s annual fundraiser, which will be held online this year.

Nikko Kandhari, CEO of Geoffrey’s Diamonds and Goldsmith, said it was his pleasure to make the donation, as supporting the well-being in children in Santa Clara County is important to him as a small-business owner and philanthropist. “I firmly believe that children are immensely important for the future of humanity and every child deserves to be on an equal playing field with a strong support system regardless of income or social class,” he said.

The virtual fundraiser includes a VIP reception at 7 p.m. where guests can purchase a $100 ticket to join one of several breakout rooms to chat with Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez and Valley Medical Center CEO Paul Lorenz; state Sen. Jim Beall and Assemblyman Evan Low; or First 5 CEO Jolene Smith and San Jose City Councilwomen Sylvia Arenas and Maya Esparza. You can also talk about wine with Bert George of Joseph George Fine Wines or just enjoy the tunes of dueling pianos. (Guests who register by Sept. 24 will receive a VIP gift of a bottle of Joseph George wine and other treats.)

Registration is free for the main event, which starts at 7:30 p.m. and includes the live auction. Go to hkidsf.org/hkf_events/abckids2020 for details.

BEAT GOES ON FOR HEART WALK: More than a half-dozen “heart walks” normally held during the spring and summer months by the American Heart Association in the Bay Area were derailed by the coronavirus pandemic, and they’re all being replaced by a single virtual event taking place this Friday.

It’ll kick off with a live opening ceremony at 11:30 a.m. featuring KNBR host and former Giants pitcher Bill Laskey and Kelly Robison , the CEO of Brown & Toland Physicians and chair of this year’s Heart Walk. From noon to 6:30 p.m., participants can take their pick of several 30-minute, on-demand fitness classes including high-intensity interval training, zumba, yoga, Afro-Caribbean dance and guided meditation — or just head outside for your own walk.

Get more information and register to participate at heartwalkbayarea.org.