The first phase of renovations at the David Traylor Zoo will be celebrated in just a few days.
The zoo has a grand opening planned for the Jones Testamentary Trust Grand Entrance and Memorial, Capitol Federal North American Flyway and ESB Financial Laughing Kookaburra Exhibit. Activities are July 8, and Director Lisa Keith says this set of renovations brings the exterior of the zoo up to par with the interior.
Activities start at 10 am with the Grand Entrance ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by the North American Flyway dedication at 10:30 am and the kookaburra exhibit dedication at 11.
This follows the Stroll and Show and Night in the Wild events earlier this month. It also precedes more work inside the zoo as part of the nearly $5 million Oasis capital campaign. The llamas will be moved to the south, clearing space for a new parking lot, while South Exchange will be paved by the city to provide better access to the zoo from the east side. Next year, the Zoo Education Center will be renovated and expanded, the king vulture exhibit will be renovated and bus parking will be added. In 2023, renovations are coming to the cereopsis goose and wallaby exhibits. 2024 will see the introduction of North American river otters to the zoo, and a new master plan could be announced either as the ongoing construction continues or shortly after it ends.
More information is available by calling the zoo at 620-341-4365, going online to www.emporiazoo.org or by finding the Emporia Zoo Facebook page.
