Page 6 - Brookfield Zoo Chicago Annual_Report_2024

NEXT CENTURY PLAN

Unveiling Our Vision
for the Future
Looking ahead to Brookfield Zoo In partnership with Brookfield Zoo
Chicago’s centennial anniversary Chicago’s Board of Trustees and
in 2034, we announced our Next input from Chicagoland communities,
Century Plan in July 2024. The public the Zoo’s bold vision outlines a
unveiling, which included a first look 15-year campus plan in four phases,
at renderings of the Zoo’s future with further improvements projected
habitats, attractions, and amenities, over 30 years. This vision includes
was received with much excitement significant westward expansion
from the public. It was shared broadly and development of current Zoo
across Chicago media outlets and property, blending new dynamic,
celebrated on the Zoo’s social media mixed-species environments
channels. Many were delighted to inspired by global ecoregions into
hear about the return of elephants. the existing rich forest canopy.
With an investment expected to
The transformational Next Century
reach $500 million from public and
Plan will reshape more than
private funding, the plan aims not
100 acres (nearly half of the Zoo’s
only to transform the physical
existing property) in innovative and
campus but also solidify the Zoo’s
inspiring ways for wildlife and guests.
role as a leader in global wildlife
Blending its historic structures with
conservation. Overall, the plan
new animal zones, the Zoo will create
promises to deliver substantial
immersive habitats that provide for
economic impact to local
the best in animal care, while creating
communities, surrounding counties,
rich experiences for guests that
and the state, as well as bolster
engage and connect expanded
the Zoo’s renowned stature
audiences to conservation.
as a global destination.