Elmwood Park Zoo, part 1

 I start this serious of posts about my recent visit to the Elmwood Park Zoo not with animals or amenities, but with their Master Plan.  I am a fan of the Master Plan.  It demonstrates a desire to be relevant.  A recognition that in order to thrive a zoo must be willing to grow.  Now, growth doesn't always mean becoming larger.  Some zoos can't.  They are hemmed in by the circumstances of their locations.  The Philadelphia Zoo (our nation's oldest) is the prime example of this, and yet it's constantly up-grading its habitats and inventing new ways to expand and enhance the range of experiences available to their animal treasures. 

Just north and west of this zoo is the Elmwood Park Zoo.  Definitely modest by comparison, but growing in both size and depth in one of the most exciting re-imaginings currently happening in the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums).  The new zoo is beginning with a multi-million dollar ground up make-over of it's entrance.  Formerly a modest building with a driveway loop designed for the off-loading of school busses and guest with mobility concerns.  The new structure will be multi-use with an interior entrance flanked by administration offices and a new animal clinic/wellness center.  Much of the building's skeleton is already in place.  

When I arrived the lower lot was full, so I drove up to an auxiliary lot on the ridge top above the zoo.  The sign said that it was also full, but as I pulled in four cars were leaving.  I found a place right next to the boardwalk that leads down to the entrance.  This is when the full extent of the new work became apparent.  A make-shift path was built around the lower edge where a group was entertaining visitors by making huge soap bubbles for the kids to chase.  It had been six years since my last visit.  I was curious to see how things had changed.

An artist's conception of the new entrance presently under construction.  The top image looks left from the guest entrance to the administration wing, and the image below pans right from the entrance to the animal clinic/wellness center.

Coming down the boardwalk toward the entrance.

The frame of the admin wing

The clinic/animal wellness side

Greeted by bubbles!