Welcome sign to ZooTampa at Lowry Park. Photo courtesy of Marcus Quigmire, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The Hillsborough County Commissioners have approved a multimillion-dollar expansion plan for ZooTampa at Lowry Park.
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By Madison Overmier
TAMPA, Fla. — Hillsborough County commissioners unanimously approved a proposal this week to fund an expansion for ZooTampa at Lowry Park. The proposal offers $75 million in public money spread over 15 years. ZooTampa will match that amount to help fund the expansion.
The money will be used to improve current exhibits and open a new South America section. The ZooTampa website announced that in the new section, guests will see new animals like jaguars and otters.
“In collaboration with the City of Tampa, we are developing plans to repurpose a parcel of land near the Hillsborough River, creating a new realm connecting Tampa to its cultural roots,” said ZooTampa.
Existing exhibits they want to improve are Africa and Asia. ZooTampa said the updated African exhibit will bring guests closer to gorillas and other primates.
“The realm will also feature multiple-species habitats that bring together endangered African elephants, Masai giraffes, white rhinos, and a unique opportunity for guests to sleep within the roar of the king of the jungle,” said ZooTampa.
The updated Asia exhibit will be designed for guests to immerse themselves in the animals’ habitat.
“Featuring stunning overhead paths that blur the line between guests and animals, the area provides new unforgettable (and safe) ways to connect with wildlife such as Bornean orangutans and Malayan tigers,” said ZooTampa.
ZooTampa said the expansion will not only be beneficial for the zoo, but also for the local economy. They said the expansion will bring more jobs and tourism money for the local economy.
“The proposed expansion would enhance the riverfront and boost the direct economic activity of Hillsborough County by 42%, to $274 million, and bring in nearly $1 million in additional tax dollars for the county annually,” said ZooTampa.
With the Hillsborough County Commissioners unanimously approving the $75 million proposal, the zoo can move forward with its plans. Commissioner Joshua Wostal told Fox13 Tampa Bay why approving the proposal would be beneficial.
“They’re one of the most financially accessible destinations in Hillsborough County. On top of that, they offer extreme environmental and educational benefits to our community,” said Wostal.
This expansion comes shortly after ZooTampa opened Florida Waters, its largest expansion to date. This habitat offers guests a learning experience, allowing them to see firsthand the zoo’s efforts to save manatees and other underwater creatures.
“The Florida Waters journey continues with Otter Oasis, a riverbank sanctuary for playful otters and the Reptile and Amphibian Discovery, which focuses on conservation initiatives aimed at saving some of Florida’s often misunderstood and underappreciated native species,” said ZooTampa.
The Florida Waters expansion was the first step in the other exhibits that ZooTampa is working to create. Anastasia Dawson from the Business Observer said the Zoo raised money for this expansion.
“In the days ahead of the grand opening for its Florida Waters exhibit, ZooTampa at Lowry Park announced this week that it raised $33 million toward its largest planned expansion to date,” said Dawson.
Dawson said two gifts from the Straz Family Foundation and the Spurlino Foundation were the main donations that allowed the Zoo to create this habitat.
With the $75 million approved by the Hillsborough County Commissioners, ZooTampa plans to continue their $125 million expansion with new and updated exhibits.