Concept Unveiled for Future of Zoo

City and Zoological Society Reach Consensus

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The $15–million dollar compromise for a future Lake Superior Zoo comes 18 months after uncertainty and even the question of possibly shutting down the zoo for good.

The concept presented by the city and Zoological society has a little bit for everyone and will need a little bit of money from everyone.

The $15-million dollar plan has city money already dedicated to it and plans to leverage state and private money.

The zoo’s attendance has been down around 23 percent in recent years, costing them hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost revenue.

The new zoo would be renewed on a 10–acre footprint and includes renovated animal exhibits including a forest discovery zone.

At the same time part of the existing zoo will be converted into a free public park.

The hope is these two will compliment each other and make all the amenities more valuable for visitors but it wasn’t quick or easy to get to this idea.

“The society and the city have reaffirmed their commitment to each other, we’ve rebuilt relationships that have been strained in a difficult decision making process and we’re prepared to move forward to make this concept a reality,” Jim Filby Williams, Director of Public Administration.

The concept is on an aggressive path to receive public input and review, with a goal of the plan going to the City Council in February.

The entire project is on a six year plan and according to Williams, they’ll need all six.