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<p>EASTON, Pa. (AP) &#8212; A popular science center in eastern Pennsylvania wants to expand by opening a $130 million second location in Easton that would include the Lehigh Valley&#8217;s first aquarium, officials said.</p><p>The current Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown isn&#8217;t big enough to accommodate growing crowds and popular traveling exhibits, according to executive director and CEO Lin Erickson.</p><p>A larger building in Easton could become a regional attraction for students and tourists, she said, similar to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia and Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh.</p><p>&#8220;This is our opportunity to serve the Northeast (Pennsylvania) region and beyond,&#8221; Erickson told The (Allentown) Morning Call on Wednesday. &#8220;The combination of a science center and aquarium is going to be a great opportunity for our kids.&#8221;</p><p>Da Vinci had been weighing expansion options in Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton. The decision to go with Easton &#8212; about 20 miles from the existing facility &#8212; will be discussed further during a news conference with city officials on Tuesday.</p><p>Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr. told the Express-Times that he hopes the project can break ground in 2018 and open in 2020. Fundraising and site acquisition are still in the works.</p><p>Easton, which sits about 50 miles north of Philadelphia, serves as the home of crayon manufacturer Crayola. Its popular Crayola Experience is the city&#8217;s main draw.</p><p>&#8220;We believe we need a second tourist attraction to bring Easton to the next level,&#8221; Panto said.</p><p>Erickson stressed that Da Vinci&#8217;s facility in Allentown will remain open.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>Associated Press</p></bylineMeta></div>

Da Vinci Science Center looks to build $130M Easton location with aquarium