Science Central has a fundraising campaign to replace the children’s science museum’s popular Giant Slide.

The center, 1950 N. Clinton St., Fort Wayne, seeks to raise $50,000 for the purchase of a new slide by Dec. 31. On Aug. 28, Science Central’s current slide will be retired, due to regular wear and tear that has accumulated over its nearly 30 years of use. Additionally, because of the exhibit’s age, the center’s inspection company will no longer conduct annual assessments after this year to verify its safety; as such, the responsible action for Science Central to take is to retire the exhibit, it announced.

Science Central has already raised $25,000 for the replacement slide. In order to meet the remainder of its $50,000 goal, however, the center needs the community’s help. To that end, Science Central has established an online donation portal, with all contributions going toward the new slide.

The new slide would not have a minimum height requirement for users, as the current slide does. This means that visitors of all sizes would be able to use the new slide. Also, since there would no longer be a height requirement to enforce, the slide would not require the presence of a Science Central staff member. As such, the exhibit would be accessible from open to close at the center, as compared to open around staff availability.

Overall, the new slide would measure 24 feet high and boast more turns than the current slide.

Martin S. Fisher, Science Central’s executive director, is excited by the prospect of refreshing one of the center’s signature attractions.

“We know our visitors love this exhibit,” Fisher said in the announcement of the Giant Slide. “In fact, their enthusiasm for it is why we’ve developed a plan to replace it. But we need their support in order to put that plan into motion. This is a unique opportunity to help us add a new slide that would delight a whole new generation of people.”

Updates about the fundraising process will be posted on Science Central’s social media accounts.