Columbus Zoo to open new $40 million North America Trek expansion this month
After years of anticipation, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has officially announced an opening date for the first phase of its renovated North America Trek region.
On May 23, the zoo will host a special community dedication ceremony at 10 a.m., after which guests can enter and explore the trek themselves. The redesigned region — which has been in the works since 2021 and represents one of the largest long-term projects the zoo has seen in over a decade — will mimic the feeling of a national park, from the Great Smoky Mountains' forest-covered peaks to the American Southwest's rocky cliffs, according to a zoo news release Tuesday.
Jen Fields, the zoo's director of communications, said in an email this first phase of the renovation of the zoo's oldest region cost roughly $40 million and covers eight acres of land. The second phase — which is currently in the planning stages and does not have a confirmed timeline — will cover an additional six acres, Fields said.
The trek will also feature the Ohio Center for Wildlife Conservation, a new area that teaches about and features local endangered animals, such as Plains garter snakes and freshwater mussels.
'This transformation revitalizes the Zoo's oldest region, originally opened in 1985, into a conservation-focused destination filled with naturalistic design, winding trails, and unforgettable views—all created with animal well-being at the heart of every design,' the zoo reported in a Tuesday Facebook post.
Prior to the North America Trek's debut, the zoo's most recent major addition was Adventure Cove, a $40-million project that opened in 2020, Fields said. She said this expansion is one of the zoo's largest capital projects since its Heart of Africa region opened in 2014.
Though the trek's 'core experience' is ready, there are still final touches that will likely not be completed by the May 23 opening date, the post states. Specifically, certain animal species may not be visible to guests as they continue to settle into their new habitats.
The region's newly featured species include Mexican wolves, bald eagles, river otters, black bears and more, according to the zoo's release. The second phase of the region's expansion will feature updated habitats for animals like wolverines, moose, reindeer and more.
The trek, designed by PGAV Destinations and built by Pepper Construction, was developed with sustainability and the animals' well-being as the top priorities.
'Reclaimed soil, rescued trees, ADA-accessible pathways, green roofs, and naturalistic landscapes all contribute to a space that is both beautiful and ecologically responsible,' the zoo's release states.
Emma Wozniak is a summer reporting intern at The Dispatch and can be reached at ewozniak@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Zoo to open North American Trek in major expansion
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