A proposed Lincoln Children’s Zoo expansion no longer adds parking south of A Street and relocates the Parks and Recreation Department's main office from its spot near the zoo.
Mayor Chris Beutler and zoo officials announced Monday they’ve agreed to a plan that will minimize the expansion's impact on surrounding neighborhoods.
The plan calls for keeping all of the zoo’s expansion within the Antelope Triangle, an area bounded by South 27th Street, Capitol Parkway and A Street. Unlike previous versions of the zoo expansion plan, the newly drafted plan would not establish parking lots south of A Street.
The plan also calls for relocating the city Parks and Recreation Department’s main offices at 2740 A St. The city plans to ask the city-county Public Building Commission Tuesday to allow the city to use the unfinished third floor of the city-county Health Department building at 32nd and O streets to house the Parks and Recreation Department.
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Some Lincoln cyclists had objected to the plan’s earlier proposal to create a parking lot area that included a drive that would have crossed the Rock Island Trail south of A Street.
The city said the new plan draws on feedback from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Pedestrian Bicycle Advisory Board, Urban Design Committee, neighbors and other groups.
“This is another classic Lincoln partnership, with the private and nonprofit sectors coming together behind a vision,†Beutler said in a news release. “The zoo worked with the city to make important changes to support that vision and community feedback made it an even better plan.â€
Parking for the zoo expansion would be just northeast of the 27th and A streets intersection and would be screened from traffic with heavily landscaped greenspace.
The expansion includes the restoration of the Ager Building to its original use as part of the zoo, new animal attractions and exhibits and activity areas that will be open all year.
The project also includes outdoor event space, expanded educational opportunities, and a new education and conservation center that will include space for the Lincoln Public Schools Science Focus Program, known as the Zoo School.
As much as $12 million of the $16 million expansion will come from private donors. Additional funding will come from increased zoo revenues and the County Visitor Improvement Fund.
LPS will fund the Zoo School enhancements. The cost of the Parks and Recreation Department office move will be included in the project budget, according to the city.
Zoo Director John Chapo said the project likely will begin next spring and require two years of construction.
“Reaching an agreement on the zoo’s expansion allows us to move forward with project designs and exploration of new exhibits,†he said in a news release. “Early next year, we hope to unveil new attractions that will make us bigger and better while keeping the zoo’s small, intimate feel.â€