Early bird
tickets
available now!
Savills
Savills
Savills
Leisure Opportunities
Job search
Job Search
see all jobs
Latest job opportunities
Heritage Great Britain
c£70,000 + benefits + relocation support
Snowdonia, North Wales
Bolton Arena
£Competitive + pension + benefits
Bolton, Greater Manchester
East Devon District Council
£41,418 - £48,474pa + local govt pension + benefits
Honiton, Devon
Everyone Active
Competitive rates of pay
South Oxhey Leisure Centre, Watford
London South Bank University
£31,396 to £34,557, inclusive of £4,952 London Weighting
Southwark Campus

Minnesota Zoo plans show focus on outdoor pursuits

Job opportunities
Heritage Great Britain
c£70,000 + benefits + relocation support
location: Snowdonia, North Wales, United Kingdom
more jobs

A US$22m (€19.8m, £16.9m) "Treetop Trail" built on a former monorail track, a nature-based preschool, and camping facilities are among reported changes that Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, US, is considering.

The Minneapolis-based Star Tribune newspaper reports that the plans have been developed and presented to the board by director and president John Frawley, who joined the zoo in 2016. They are notable for their focus on outdoor pursuits as a means to attract visitors, rather than new or exotic animal exhibits.

Key parts of the project include the aforementioned Treetop Trail, which the report says at 1.3 miles long would likely be the longest elevated trail loop in the US, a rock-climbing facility within a vacant IMAX theatre, paved trails, a lodge and several camping options.

"The Treetop Trail is what's got everybody buzzing," Charlene Briner, vice chairwoman of the zoo board, is quoted as saying. "They like the idea that we are redeploying and modernising an asset that is right now unused."

Animal "encounters" could be manufactured in new areas, such as by organising hikes out to visit an elk herd, or by zookeepers bringing certain animals to campsites or the Treetop Trail.

Overall the facilities plan aims to make the zoo easier to navigate; it will also renovate ageing elements – such as an animal hospital – and fix infrastructures such as bridges, roads and roofs.

The zoo, which typically receives about a third of its budget from the state, is seeking US$39m (€35.1m, £29.9m) from the legislature in 2020, including US$11m (€9.9m, £8.45m) for the Treetop Trail, US$15.5m (€13.95m, £11.9m) for revitalisation projects, and US$12.5m (€11.25m, £9.6m) for repairs and updates.

Ms Briner added that the plans did not mean that the zoo's identity and focus on animals would necessarily change, saying: "We don't want to become like a nature amusement park."

The zoo said the plans actually align with its longtime mission, which is to "connect people, animals and the natural world to save wildlife".

Sign up for FREE ezines & magazines
A US$22m (€19.8m, £16.9m) "Treetop Trail" built on a former monorail track, a nature-based preschool, and camping facilities are among reported changes that Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, US, is considering.
CLD,VAT,ARC,DES
imagesX/THUMB344229_490332_654046.jpg

More News

1 - 15 of 68,042
22 Jul 2024
US health and fitness giant, Planet Fitness, which flagged plans to launch in Spain back in February, has officially announced the opening of its first ... More
22 Jul 2024
Plans have been unveiled for La Maviglia, a new luxury resort and expansive medi-spa set to open in Italy's Puglia region, renowned for its Primitivo ... More
19 Jul 2024
Auberge Resorts Collection will launch its first UK property and destination spa in Mayfair, London, in 2025, following a deal with UK-based global private investment ... More
19 Jul 2024
Urban Gym Group CEO Neil Randall talks in this month’s HCM about how being passed over for promotion taught him the resilience to power through ... More
19 Jul 2024
A large new mineral springs destination has launched in Texas, inspired by some of the world’s most famous hot springs – such as Jordan’s Dead ... More
18 Jul 2024
Boxing and strength franchise UBX has taken a step closer to realising its ambitions to be the largest boxing provider in the Middle East by ... More
Life Fitness (UK) Ltd
Life Fitness (UK) Ltd
18 Jul 2024
Fitness International has announced the acquisition of XSport Fitness, adding to its portfolio of brands, which includes LA Fitness, Esporta Fitness, City Sports Club and ... More
18 Jul 2024
A thought-provoking, US national probability study, The WELLSurvey™, has revealed that the majority of Americans now include several health and wellness practices in their everyday ... More
17 Jul 2024
Community Leisure UK (CLUK) and The Richmond Group of Charities have joined forces to support charitable trusts and social enterprises in strengthening their programmes for ... More
18 Jul 2024
US integrative wellness brand The Well has named Ariella Willoughby as its new VP of operations, aiming to drive significant growth and operational success across ... More
17 Jul 2024
Mental Health Swims has been awarded almost £18,000 of lottery money to extend its mission to support mental health through swimming. The community organisation was ... More
16 Jul 2024
Employee wellness app GoJoe has teamed up with Les Mills for a major new content offering, giving access to hundreds of new workouts. The partnership ... More
16 Jul 2024
Former footballer, David Beckham, has become a strategic investor in health sciences company, Prenetics, which pioneers scientific advancements in health. The partners have co-founded a ... More
16 Jul 2024
Middleton Enterprises, a UK-based family investment office, has committed £1.6 million (US$2.1 million, €1.9 million) in funding to the Light Centre – a network of ... More
16 Jul 2024
Gymbox has partnered with Haringey Council and not-for-profit organisation, Raza Sana, to give opportunities to those living in disadvantaged communities. Yesterday (15 July) saw the ... More
1 - 15 of 68,042
Savills
Savills