NORTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Lehigh Valley Zoo officially broke ground Thursday on the first stretch of a $10 million multiphase expansion and revitalization project.
Just before the heat and humidity set in for the morning, zoo officials and developers gathered to celebrate the start of construction for a new accessible-use playground and barn set for the Children’s Activity Area.
“Right behind me, we’ll be building a brand-new barn for all of our barnyard friends. The barn will allow guests to walk through and see animals living in the barn, and then out into the yard to interact with them there, as well.”Lehigh Valley Zoo President Amanda Shurr
Lehigh Valley Zoo President Amanda Shurr said the multi-year project will aim to upgrade the lower barnyard section of the zoo grounds.
“Right behind me, we’ll be building a brand-new barn for all of our barnyard friends,” Shurr said.
“The barn will allow guests to walk through and see animals living in the barn, and then out into the yard to interact with them there, as well.”
The barn, which will be built by King Construction through support from the Fred J. Jaindl Foundation and the David and Jackie Jaindl family, will house alpacas, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens and some new furry friends in the future, with an anticipated completion date in November, officials said.
The barn's walkthrough design will provide visitors with a peek inside the bedrooms of their favorite furry friends, as well as an opportunity to feed and pet animals that wish to participate.
A new layout for that section of the zoo also will provide the care team with a better ability to support the animals.
Playground area also to be updated
The zoo's playground area also will get a refresh, thanks to Recreation Resource USA and Burke Poured-In-Place Rubber Surfacing, with more features for kids of all ages.
“Now we'll have one structure for younger kids, and one structure for the kids who are a little bit older, with some accessible elements, swings in the middle,” Shurr said.
“And we're also adding some covered seating areas so moms, dads, grandparents, whoever's hanging out with the kids, they don't want to bake in the sun, so we're giving them some covered places to sit as well.”
Shurr said the nonprofit zoo relies heavily on community support to make such projects happen. As it stands, he said, the new project is about one-third funded.
“And we do really rely on partners and members of the community who love the zoo, want to continue to see it grow and thrive, both now and for future generations," Shurr said.
"And appreciate that support as we continue."
Further development
Phase Two of the project would involve construction of the Isaacman Family Education Center, supported by Jared and Monica Isaacman.
It would triple the capacity for the zoo’s education team to hold classes, groups and animal encounters.
The center also would serve as a home for the zoo’s ambassador animals, in addition to housing an additional set of restrooms, a nursing station and changing rooms for the upcoming splash pad.
Phases Three and Four would include the addition of a splash pad and improvements to other amenities, such as a marketplace for food and retail concessions and a semi-permanent covered seating area for guests of all ages and abilities.
The CAA marks the zoo’s third major construction project in the past three years.
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.
'It is pretty unique for us'
Recreation Resource USA District Representative Steve Compo said his company and its partners are working hard to make the playground enjoyable for all, and he’s proud of the work done by Recreation Resource USA and Burke.
Compo said a playground in a zoo is a novel, new concept for him — one he hopes captures some attention.
"Honestly, I feel like this is going to be in the running for a national playground [award] with Burke. So I'm hoping that they see it and feel the same that I do, because it is pretty unique for us, and I love the design that they came out with."Recreation Resource USA District Representative Steve Compo
"Honestly, I feel like this is going to be in the running for a national playground [award] with Burke," he said.
"So I'm hoping that they see it and feel the same that I do, because it is pretty unique for us, and I love the design that they came out with."
King Construction Co. LLC Consultant Jensen King said his company connected with the zoo via work with the Jaindl family.
He said he hopes to have a foundation laid and construction started by September.
“It's going to be a stall barn, so there'll be, I believe, eight stalls, and then the center aisle," King said. "You'll be able to walk down the aisle and then see the animals on both sides as you're walking through the barn.
“And then on the back side, there's going to be an area where they can bring the animals out to the to the guests here, and they’ll be able to pet the animals and that type of thing — play with the animals, with the goats.”
'Super, super excited'
Lehigh Valley Zoo Board Chairman Jeff Drobins said that he and his colleagues were excited to see the project get off the ground.
“We've been talking about it for about a year and a half," Drobins said. "We started raising the money, and we're really happy to have some really great partners.
“We're expecting another 30,000 guests once we finish all of phase one, two and three. So there's much more than just what we're talking about today. It'll be a really great experience for our guests.”Lehigh Valley Zoo Board Chairman Jeff Drobins
“And it's something that has been here for 20 years. It's well beyond its useful life, and so it's a much-needed enhancement to the zoo experience for our guests.
"So we’re super, super excited.”
Drobins said the new features will encourage visitors to stay a little longer and enjoy other parts of the zoo, and entice more people to check out their organization.
And once the subsequent phases are finished, the board and zoo officials said, they expect substantially increased traffic.
“We're expecting another 30,000 guests once we finish all of phase one, two and three," Drobins said.
“So there's much more than just what we're talking about today. It'll be a really great experience for our guests.”
