St. Louis Zoo Plans $40M Destination Discovery
Date Posted: May 16, 2023
Posted In: Organizations, Projects,
From St. Louis Post-Dispatch: The children’s zoo area at the St. Louis Zoo has been reimagined and will be rebuilt as a place where children and families can interact with and be inspired by animals: whether they’re “popping up” next to a prairie dog, splashing on one leg with Chilean flamingoes or climbing through tunnels alongside Tasmanian devils, one of only three places in the country to see them.
The $40 million Henry A. Jubel Foundation Destination Discovery is set to open in 2026, officials announced Friday.
The project also includes an expanded preschool and indoor education space. Construction begins next year.
The Jubel foundation is giving a lead $15 million gift, with the rest coming from donations and other sources, such as zoo and association annual revenues. Admission rates have not been set, though the larger zoo itself is free. The previous children’s zoo admission was $3.95.
Melissa Jubel Markwort, executive director of the foundation, spoke about her family’s longstanding connection and love for the zoo at an unveiling event at the zoo Friday. “Today my family visits the zoo regularly,” she said. “It truly holds a special place in our heart. When the children’s zoo closed in 2020, as a family we knew we wanted to be a part of bringing the space back to life in an even better way.”
“I think that’s what excites me the most is that this is going to be something totally different,” said zoo president and CEO Dwight Scott in an interview at the zoo Wednesday.
He and other zoo staff often hear stories about visitors who went to the children’s zoo during its 51-year history and have returned with their children and grandchildren.