LV ZOO BREAKS GROUND FOR the CHILDREN’S ACTIVITY AREA
Phase 1 of the $10 M Project in the Lower Section of the Zoo Expected to be Complete by Fall

(Schnecksville, Pa.) – Lehigh Valley Zoo hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking Thursday for Phase 1 of the Children’s Activity Area (CAA) in the lower section of the facility. This phase, expected to be completed in the fall, consists of the construction of an accessible playground and a state-of-the-art barn in the reconfigured Fred & Anne Jaindl Family Barnyard.

The entirety of $10 M project, managed by North Star Construction Managementof Allentown, Pa., will be broken down into four phases with an expected completion date of late 2027. Plans were publicly announced in February 2025.

“After months of planning, the zoo and our partners are excited to kickoff of the construction of the first phase of what will be the largest project the Zoo has ever undertaken,” LV Zoo President & CEO Amanda Shurr said. “ By adding an accessible playground and walkthrough barn and barnyard area, we will both enhance our guests experience at our zoo as well as improve the welfare of all of our barnyard friends.”

The new playground, designed by Recreation Resource USA, will feature modern, accessible equipment for children of all abilities. Additionally, the BurkePoured-In-Place Rubber Surfacing is optimal for the safety and accessibility of zoo guests. Tuskes Homes provided the excavation of the former playground and barnyard area as well as the site prep for Phase 1.

The new barn, to be built by King Construction through the support of the Fred J Jaindl Foundation and the David & Jackie Jaindl family, will be open year-round. The walkthrough design of the barn will allow guests to view the animals’ “bedrooms” while allowing them to participate in brushing or feeding barnyard residents that wish to participate. The layout of the barn and barnyard will also have a positive impact on the ability of LV Zoo’s animal care team to support these animals.

The project Is being supported by philanthropy, public support and zoo funding. Information about the CAA and how to become a contributor can be found at lvzoo.org/CAA. Currently, the zoo – a non-profit organization – has raised $3.2 M of its $10 M goal.

The CAA combines state-of-the-art amenities with good old-fashioned fun. The goal is to increase opportunities for guests to get close to animals and see them in an entirely new way; provide new educational opportunities for schools; and highlight the zoo’s conservation work advocating for – and protecting – species around the globe.

Phase Two involves the construction of the Isaacman Family Education Center. The new building, generously supported by Jared and Monica Isaacman, will triple the current capacity for the zoo’s education team to host classes, groups and animal encounters. The center will serve as a state-of-the-art home for many of the zoo’s ambassador animals while also providing an additional set of guest restrooms, a nursing station and changing rooms for the future splash pad.

 Phases Three and Four include the addition of a splash pad and improvements to other amenities in this section of the zoo, such as a marketplace for food and retail concession and a semi-permanent covered seating area for guests of all ages and abilities. The splash pad will encourage guests to stay and play longer while offering relief during the warmer summer months.

Throughout the construction process, several animals will be temporarily relocated until the project is complete.

The CAA marks LV Zoo’s third major construction project in the past three years, as the zoo added Habitat Madagascar – a new exhibit that houses mongoose lemurs, red ruffed lemurs and tortoises – on May 26, 2023, and Rothrock Red Panda Peak on June 7, 2024.

Once the CAA is completed, LV Zoo anticipates an increase in attendance by at least 30,000 guests annually – which will aid in improving animal habitats and wellbeing, while also amplifying the guest experience. The zoo is coming off a record-setting annual attendance, having welcomed 183,414 guests during its 2023-24 fiscal year.

LV Zoo is currently operating seven days per week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at lvzoo.org.

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As a member-supported non-profit organization, Lehigh Valley Zoological Society was founded in 2004, but it has been treasured community landmark for centuries. Located in the Lehigh Valley’s Trexler Nature Preserve, the mission of the Lehigh Valley Zoo is to connect its community with nature to empower people to protect wildlife. We have achieved our mission and educated more than five million people. Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Lehigh Valley Zoo hosts year-round, family-friendly events and activities, educational programs, and camps. To learn more about Lehigh Valley Zoo, we invite you to visit our website, www.lvzoo.org, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

— SmartFun—