The New Vision-Fast Facts

• Focuses on building an exciting animal collection that offers unique experiences for zoo guests, provides rich educational stories, allows for participation in conservation programs, differentiates us from other zoos, and compliments our topography and climate
• Seeks to utilize all of the acreage in a blending of the park and zoo while creating great amenities for both that reflect a zoological theme.
• Can be built in phases to keep operational funds growing at a pace to support new construction.
• Would eventually more than double the current space for exhibits.
• Creates fun ways to transport visitors up and down the hillsides including a funicular (incline), elevators, zip lines, and more.
• Emphasizes interaction with animals and zoo staff.
• Includes opportunities for self-contained, low-impact exhibits outside the zoo perimeter to further blend the park and zoo.
• At the heart of the park build a community plaza to be used by both park and zoo visitors.
• Constructs a service corridor behind the current zoo to eliminate truck traffic in the park and at the zoo entrance.
• Demolishes old exhibits such as grizzly bear and lion/tiger. Builds new natural habitats for these and other animals. Rebuilds the entire zoo over time.
• Brings polar bears back to the Zoo in a natural tundra exhibit.
• Utilizes water and rivers as a unifying them—streams, waterfalls, rapids—to tell important conservation stories and create a natural softer look to the entire zoo. Emphasizes the fact that we have the only aquarium in Michigan
• Creates exciting year round exhibits.
• First projects would include The Great Grizzly Trail at the front of the zoo, community plaza and new entrance.
• Jones and Jones, Zoo Exhibit and Master Planning firm, was the design firm working with the Zoo Society and Zoo Staff on the new vision.
• Establishes a conservation/education center for the zoo.
• Focuses on animals from temperate climates to tell the stories of the great northern forests.
• Engages the visitors in exploration and discovery of nature and wild animals.
• Helps stimulate the economy by creating jobs and bringing visitors to our community.