Officials at the Assiniboine Park Zoo broke ground on a new entrance gate to welcome visitors on Tuesday.
The $5.5 million project will see a 11,410-square-foot, multi-purpose facility constructed just east of the current zoo entrance located at 2595 Roblin Blvd.
The building will feature a welcoming plaza, a dedicated guest services centre as well as a new retail store.
The zoo expects an increase in visitation with the upcoming Journey to Churchill exhibit, and say the new entrance will be essential in handling more visitors and its 8,000 annual members.
“Not only will the new entrance accommodate the growing zoo, it will welcome our visitors in a way that as they approach, they know what they’re about to see and experience inside is going to be spectacular,” said Margaret Redmond, president and CEO of the Assiniboine Park Conservancy.
The entrance is expected to be completed by June 2014.
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