Elected officials and zoo patrons gathered at the Kansas City Zoo to commemorate the first phase of a multi-million dollar renovation and expansion program.

The groundbreaking, which was preceded by a news conference, marks the beginning of $3.6 million in construction at the zoo and the beginning of more than $30 million worth of work slated for completion by 2011.

Voters approved a $30 million bond package in April 2004 for zoo improvements. The bond will pay for deferred maintenance and extensive improvements over the next few years, ranging from infrastructure repairs to construction of a new polar bear exhibit where the zoo’s bear pits were originally.

The current construction, scheduled for completion in summer 2006, consists of two projects. A 28-foot wide, ADA-accessible promenade will include gateways to exhibits and wayfinding graphics to help orient zoo patrons. Major construction on the zoo’s Red Barn will change it from a domesticated animal exhibit to a Discovery Barn with interactive areas and new animal exhibits for children.

Design work is being completed on the third project in the first phase. Current plans are to restructure the tropics building into a tropical habitat and interior exhibit space. The tropics building was built in 1909 and is one of the oldest building on the zoo’s grounds. Construction on the tropics building is expected to be completed in spring of 2007.

For more information about the Kansas City Zoo improvements, call Sean Demory, communications specialist in the Capital Improvements Management Office, (816) 513-0059, or send a message via e-mail to kansascityworks@kcmo.org.

View the official invitation and map to this groundbreaking.