Here's What We Know About the Brookfield Zoo Master Plan

Phase One of the Brookfield Zoo Master Plan Is Already in Progress

The first phase of renovations is already open for guests to enjoy (we wrote a little about it here); the completion of the new dolphin habitat and improvements to the Hamil Family Play Zoo, including two new koalas, arrived earlier this summer. The centerpiece Roosevelt Fountain has also been renovated, and a $66 million expansion of Tropic World into Tropical Forests is underway and set to be completed in 2025.

What's coming after 2025

Following the improvements to the Tropic World exhibit will be a reimagining of about half of the zoo's 235 acres. The historic core, including the fountains, gates, and carousel, will remain the same, and the zoo will add 14 new ecoregions where visitors can experience different environments where various non-carnivorous animals live together.

These regions will be in the western part of the zoo near the existing Swan Lake and include an expansion of the visitable zoo property to the west of Salt Creek. If you're a regular Brookfield Zoo Chicagoan, make sure you take a look at the map to see how much more space this plan will take up!

Exhibit Upgrades and Expansions You'll See in Brookfield Zoo's Master Plan for the Future

 
New Gateway to Africa-South African Forests

The Gateway to Africa Ecoregion

This area will encompass the Art Deco pachyderm building, expanding to include environments like forests and savannahs. The larger, more open habitat will allow Brookfield Zoo Chicago to house elephants for the first time in over a decade. Similarly, the Australian ecoregion will contain the historic Australia house, but will also have an elevated walkway over canopies and scrublands, allowing guests to see kangaroos, emus, koalas, and more.

 
New Himalayan and Central Asian Steppe

The Pacific Coasts of the Americas

This habitat will encompass Sea Lion Cove, offering underwater and overwater viewing, and an area inspired by Peru's Punta San Juan Marine Protected Area where visitors can check out Humboldt penguins, free-flying terns, and gulls. The Himalayan and Central Asian Steppe ecoregions will be created during phases 3 and 4 of the project, which will take place in 2034 and beyond—which may very well be past the time our kids go to college!

Wildlife Discovery Area

This part of Brookfield Zoo Chicago's plan includes expanded attractions like a new amphitheater, a permanent butterfly house, and impressive habitats for sloth bears, sun bears, wolverines, and red pandas. Guest experiences will also get an upgrade with a streamlined ticketing and entry process, the elimination of parking ticket booths, a pedestrian overpass, and a parking shuttle to help guests get to and from their cars. The zoo also has plans to embrace an eco-friendly approach to operations with solar-powered lighting, permeable pavers, and native landscaping. 

The Conservation Campus

Got kids interested in learning more about biology or zoology? This area on the zoo's south end will be a hub for educators, scientists, and conservationists and will include an expanded veterinary hospital, an indoor viewing gallery for conservation research, and interactive exhibits about the zoo's conservation efforts. 

 
 
New North Gate Arrival

After visiting zoos across the Midwest with my kids, I'm thrilled to see these updates to one of our hometown zoos and look forward to seeing how the new investment brings fun, education, and conservation to the city and suburbs. It will be so fun to see the progress each year!

Read more about the zoo's New Century plan here.

Renderings credit: Jones & Jones Architects and Landscape Architects and Booth Hansen.