2 minute read
New at the Zoo
NEW
at the Zoo
Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown, PA recently announced that a donor has given a landmark $30-million gift to fund the construction of a new welcome center and animal hospital, honoring the zoo’s upcoming 100th anniversary in 2024, and supporting its ambitious $150-million master plan that features a series of projects to renovate and expand the zoo over several years.
Elmwood Park Zoo's new animal hospital will be one of the largest and most advanced exotic animal care facilities in the nation, featuring multiple exam rooms, treatment centers, quarantine facilities, recovery wards, and surgical suites outfitted with state-of-theart equipment. Giant glass viewing bays will provide guests with an insider’s look at the hospital’s daily activities.
In addition, the new building also will host the zoo’s welcome center, ticket windows, educational displays, and gift shop. Guest amenities that focus on accessibility and inclusivity will provide visitors with a comfortable and inviting environment. An additional floor inside the building will accommodate administrative offices as well as meeting spaces.
The anonymous donor, a local entrepreneur with strong ties to Norristown, intended his contribution to be the leading gift toward the zoo’s master plan, saying, “It was made as an effort for other Montgomery County philanthropists to follow [my] lead and get involved.” "It's beyond humbling to receive such a transformative and generous gift," says Al Zone, Elmwood Park Zoo's executive director and CEO. "This donation comes at a crucial moment for the zoo. On the verge of our 100th anniversary, this gift allows us to extend our exceptional veterinary care to an increasing number of species, and it provides us with a means to build an entrance that can accommodate the large number of guests who visit us each year. It's the most important piece of a plan from which all of our other plans will be made possible."
Elmwood Park Zoo, established in 1924, is owned and operated by the Norristown Zoological Society, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster an appreciation for wildlife and the environment that will inspire active participation in conservation. The zoo has attained elite status as one of over 230 institutions accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
“We are truly fortunate to have the confidence of this individual, and I appreciate his forward thinking to help the zoo begin its next century as a strong and sound organization,” said Jennifer Conti, Elmwood Park Zoo’s director of development. “The zoo has shown immense organizational strength over the last two years, and we have overcome tremendous challenges to get us to where we are today. I am very much looking forward to the journey ahead.”
