Plan's 20-year vision is aimed at guiding zoo to greener future
The Oregon Zoo is looking to become a truly "green" zoo. A new 20-year master plan approved by unanimous vote of the Metro Council on Thursday will help guide that vision.
A zoowide geothermal heat exchanger, rain-harvesting systems and green roofs are among the elements of the new plan that will save energy and water, as well as reduce operating costs. On each new facility, the zoo is striving for silver certification or better from the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program.
At the same time, the master plan will help the zoo implement a new vision of expanded, more natural habitats in which animals can make choices about how and where to spend their day. Each habitat will be larger, include more natural materials and be open to the air and sky, with sheltered areas for colder seasons. The plan was developed through a close collaboration between animal keepers and designers to ensure the new facilities support and accommodate animals' natural behaviors.
"This plan is a bold step into the future for the Oregon Zoo and zoos in general," said Kim Smith, zoo director. "We're grateful for the vote of confidence from the Metro Council and support from the community in helping to achieve this vision."
Improvements spanning 20 years
The master plan lays out 20 years of improvements to guest and animal spaces across the zoo, initially focusing on replacing and upgrading the oldest areas of the zoo campus. The most critical need is for a new veterinary medical center, which is already under construction and due to be completed by the end of the year. A water-saving filtration system for the penguin pool is also close to completion.
Habitats for elephants, polar bears, rhinos and primates will come next. Some of these animals' current exhibits and facilities are more than 30 years old, even dating to the opening of the zoo in its present location in the 1950s. A new education center and an entirely new condor habitat are also part of the first phase of projects. These projects make improvements to nearly a third of the zoo campus.
The $125 million bond, passed by voters in 2008, is funding this first phase of master plan implementation. Plans and designs for these projects were approved by the Metro Council on Sept. 22.
The remaining projects identified in the master plan will be funded through future sources. Projects include further expansion of the primate habitat, a new Northwest carnivore zone (where cougars, wolves and bears will reside) and a multispecies Africa savanna habitat, where giraffes, rhinos and gazelles will live together. The master plan also better defines Asian and South American habitat zones.
"This is an outstanding plan that provides a solid framework for the Oregon Zoo's future," said Metro Councilor Shirley Craddick, who introduced the resolution. "We are pleased to reach this exciting milestone and look forward to working with the zoo's staff and The Oregon Zoo Foundation to bring this vision to reality."
'Greener' learning venues
Students, campers and visitors who take part in zoo programs will appreciate the bright, enticing educational spaces slated to replace the classrooms, currently scattered across the zoo campus. The new conservation education center will be constructed on the site of the zoo's former entrance at Tiger Plaza, where it will provide easy schoolbus access and serve as a central location for visitors seeking a deeper understanding of the zoo's animals and their habitats. An expansive ecoroof, visible from a number of vantage points and changing through the seasons, will integrate the zoo's natural surroundings into the developed campus and will retain, filter and slowly release stormwater.
The zoo's vision for animal care includes open-air habitats with weather protection, giving them the choice to be inside or out, with others or alone. Flooring will be natural soil, grass or other porous, well-drained material. Additionally, each new habitat will provide a stimulating environment with daily opportunities for discovery, problem-solving and play.
The zoo is a service of Metro and is dedicated to its mission to inspire the community to create a better future for wildlife. Committed to conservation, the zoo is currently working to save endangered California condors, Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits, Oregon silverspot butterflies, Western pond turtles, Oregon spotted frogs and Kincaid's lupine. Other projects include studies on black rhinos, Asian elephants, polar bears and bats.
The zoo opens at 9 a.m. daily, and is located five minutes from downtown Portland, just off Highway 26. The zoo is also accessible by MAX light rail line. Zoo visitors who travel to the zoo via MAX receive $1.50 off zoo admission. Call TriMet Customer Service, 503-238-RIDE (7433), or visit www.trimet.org for fare and route information.
General admission is $10.50 (ages 12-64), $9 for seniors (65 and up), $7.50 for children (ages 3-11) and free for those 2 and younger; 25 cents of the admission price helps fund regional conservation projects through the zoo's Future for Wildlife program. A parking fee of $2 per car is also required.