The Louisville Zoo will build a new expansion worth nearly $100 million, according to construction permit filings submitted to the city.
The 24,775-square-foot Commonwild at Kentucky Trails expansion will construct a dozen new buildings in an undeveloped area of the zoo. The 17.5-acre exhibit will be dedicated to showcasing regional wildlife, spokesperson Kyle Shepherd told The Courier Journal.
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The Louisville Zoo’s Commonwild at Kentucky Trails exhibit is set to break ground in early 2027.
The Louisville Zoo Foundation is fundraising to meet a $77.1 million goal, and it has already received $15 million from the Kentucky General Assembly, though a bill appropriating $5 million of the Metro Government budget to the zoo over the next two fiscal years could also contribute. A separate $5 million allocation from Mayor Craig Greenberg’s budget has also been factored into the project, but still faces final approval by Louisville Metro Council, Shepherd said.
The project has also received support from the Gheens Foundation, the Friends of the Louisville Zoo, members of the Louisville Zoo Foundation Board and other private donors.
The Kentucky Trails expansion at the Louisville Zoo will require the construction of a dozen new buildings in an undeveloped area of the zoo.
The zoo is currently completing infrastructure work that will eventually allow for an anticipated formal groundbreaking in early 2027, Shepherd said. The project will develop in phases over the next three years, and it is set to be completed by Summer 2029. The construction manager for the project is Whittenburg Construction.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville Zoo to build new expansion for Summer 2029 opening
