Construction on zoo?s new exhibit to start this spring

Photo courtesy Henry Vilas Zoo

Construction of the Arctic Passage exhibit at the Henry Vilas Zoo is set to start in the spring of 2014, according to a release.

The new exhibit is the result of a historic partnership between the county and The Friends of the Henry Vilas Zoo, officials said. Dane County plans to award JP Cullen a $9.4 million contract to build the exhibit and indoor restaurant, pending approval by the Dane County Board.

Arctic Passages improved design brings polar bears back to Madison with a larger habitat and an underwater viewing area that brings people closer to one of the bears, according to the release. The exhibit will also include a new habitat for grizzly bears, complete with a creek that can be stocked with fish, which allows visitors the opportunity to watch a bear capture and eat a fish like bears do in the wild.

After years of planning, the county is set to break ground on the largest expansion in our free zoos 102-year history, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi said. This world-class exhibit will not only enhance one of the regions premiere destinations for families, it will provide important education on the impact climate change has had on the threatened polar bear population and our planet.

Also included in the habitat will be the first indoor dining option at the zoo. The restaurant will seat dozens, and includes a viewing window looking into the polar bear exhibit.

We couldnt be more excited to be a part of Arctic Passage, Tim Pertzborn of JP Cullen said. Its an honor to be able to contribute to a project that will have great economic and community impact regionally, in Dane County and in our neighboring Rock County as well.

Thanks to a community fundraising campaign, the Arctic Passage will also include a new exhibit for the zoos harbor seals, according to the release.

On the heels of this exciting step forward for the Arctic Passage, were excited to announce an anonymous $25,000 matching challenge grant to support the project, Friends of the Henry Vilas Zoo Executive Director Alison Prange said. We are asking community members to dig deep and help us match this grant by Jan. 18 to launch the final push to bring the bears back to Madison.

The project is estimated to cost a little over $10.5 million, according to the release. Dane County will fund $4.38 million of the exhibits design and construction costs. Friends of the Henry Vilas Zoo has raised $3.6 million and still needs to raise the remaining $1 million to complete the exhibit. The county will also fund the $1.6 million cost to design and build the indoor dining area.

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Construction on zoo?s new exhibit to start this spring