The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens will take on a whole new look in the next few years as the result of a new master plan and capital fundraising campaign.
The main entrance to the zoo will be relocated to the area now occupied by the education campus, allowing visitors to take a north loop, a south loop or both. The first thing visitors will see upon entering the zoo grounds will be a new Manatee River exhibit once the project is completed in mid-2023. A new education campus and lion exhibit are planned for the following years.
The improvements will be paid for by a $50 million fundraising campaign launched this week. Tony Vecchio, executive director of the zoo, said the city has agreed to a dollar-for-dollar match up to $5 million for each of the next five years.
Read the rest of the story at WJCT News partner The Florida Times-Union.