GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Major changes are coming to the John Ball Zoo including new animals, habitats and facilities.
All week, the zoo will be presenting its 10-year master plan to community members at four events. And in that plan, the zoo has many projects that are aimed at furthering the zoo's conservation and sustainability efforts while also serving to inspire the community.
John Ball Zoo CEO Peter D'Arienzo echoed that sentiment in an interview with 13 ON YOUR SIDE ahead of the master plan unveiling.
"We exist to engage our community in order to inspire them to take action," D'Arienzo said.
Sea lions return to JBZ
And that community engagement will be front and center with the return of sea lions, an animal that used to be a main attraction at the zoo in years past.
"The sea lion habitat is in the central plaza where Monkey Island currently is... So we're bringing them back," said D'Arienzo. "This habitat, we're going to use the elevation to our advantage. At the lower level, you're going to walk through a tunnel that goes under the water, and sea lions will swim over you, and then you'll enter into a room that you can sit and watch them swim by, or you can go around around it and look at sea lions from the top. And there will also be a sea lion show as part of the habitat as well."
Giraffes are coming to the zoo
The John Ball Zoo is also bringing in a new marquee animal to serve as a major attraction while also supporting conservation efforts.
Giraffes will be the newest addition to the African exhibit at the zoo that will be a foundation for further expansions to the exhibit.
"We're going to bring giraffes, at least five giraffes, and we'll be able to breed giraffes. And there will be giraffe feeding for the public, there will also be a large indoor viewing barn," said D'Arienzo. "We want to show the community the amazing animal care. So we're actually going to create an experience where every zoo guest can actually walk through that barn and actually see the care. And we want people to see what goes on behind the scenes and the amazing care that we provide."
South American forest biome
One of the biggest announcements from the master plan was the addition of what D'Arienzo is calling the "largest indoor biome in North America"—the South American forest habitat.
This new indoor expansion to the zoo can house things like jaguars, capybaras, new world primates and piranha and could serve as the backbone of a winter zoo experience.
"It's a good 40 feet tall, with a 30-foot waterfall actually in it. And it will be an hour and a half or more experience, and it will create the foundation of the winter zoo," D'Arienzo explained. "What we heard in the community was we'd like you to be open year round. And imagine coming out here in January, it's snowing outside, and you enter this oasis of the South American forest."
It's more than just animals and habitats
The John Ball Zoo is staying true to its conservation and sustainability focus with other additions throughout the park including new parking, a new education facility, conservation effort exhibit, gift shop and more.
The zoo is hoping to get LEED and SITES certifications for many of the new buildings, habitats and even the parking lot addition. Those certifications are awarded based on sustainability efforts in the construction and efficiency of the buildings or outdoor sites.
"We're trying to show the community that there is a way to build in a way that either reduces or restores our impact on the natural environment. And it's really an honor and a privilege to be able to serve the community. In this community, of all communities, this community gets it. They get the importance of clean air, water, soil, you know, and reducing our impacts," said D'Arienzo.
The John Ball Zoo will be presenting their master plan to the community on the following dates:
Tuesday, Nov. 19
- 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.
- Grand Rapids Center for Community Transformation, Madison Ballroom, 1530 Madison Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507
Wednesday, Nov. 20
- 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
- North Kent County Campus, 4191 17 Mile Rd NE, Cedar Springs, MI 49319
Wednesday, Nov. 20
- 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
- John Ball Zoo, Savannah Ballroom, Administration Building, 1300 Fulton St W, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Thursday, Nov. 21
- 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
- Gaines Township Office, 8555 Kalamazoo Ave SE, Caledonia, MI 49316