The State of Illinois has awarded the Miller Park Zoo with a $750,000 Illinois Department of Natural Resources Public Museum Capital Grant. The award does not require the City of Bloomington to match the grant funds.
The grant monies will go toward infrastructure and basement renovations on the 108-year-old Katthoefer Animal Building, the largest of all the projects on the Zoo campus.
“The Katthoefer Animal Building opened in 1914 so any building that old needs work done,” said Jay Tetzloff, Zoo Superintendent. “Work in the basement includes electrical, concrete and piping. It also will include building and renovating animal areas that will improve areas for the animals, mostly birds, that come inside for the winter.”
Renovations that Zoo guests will notice are a new pool in the Tropical Rainforest area and two new small animal exhibits in the Katthoefer Animal Building for the Reticulated Python and a large lizard species. The new Reticulated Python exhibit will double the size for our current snake who is now over 17’ long.
“I think the community will be pleased to know that we are caring for this historic and much-loved building for the future,” Tetzloff adds.
Work will begin in late 2022.
For more information on Miller Park Zoo or any of the City of Bloomington’s Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts’ facilities, programs, classes, and events please, contact the City of Bloomington’s PRCA Department at (309) 434-2260, or visit BloomingtonParks.org.
Alerts Sign-up