Slideshow: Dedication of the CVS All Kids Can Treehouse
New England Trail and Children's Zoo
A revitalization of the current wetlands boardwalk and building on the site of the zoo's former dinosaur trail will result in an amazing new Children’s Zoo and Wetlands Trail that offers hands-on exploration and play for kids. The inter-generational experience will encourage family learning of the natural wonders of our region (and a reason to come back again and again and again!).
Plans for this entirely new “zoo-within-a-zoo” include:
-- COMPLETE -- The Feinstein Junior Scholar Wetlands Trail opened in April, 2007! A complete renovation of the wetlands trail, a staple of the Roger Williams Park Zoo that opened in 1980 as a sanctuary for the unique plants and animals indigenous to New England, some of them are threatened species.
Hands-on play zones and unique sensory experiences
Exhibits showcasing species native to our region interspersed with play and activity zones
Approachable and engaging animals
Kids and their families won’t even realize how much they’ve learned about Rhode Island’s ecosystem and native species!
Timeframe and budget: $3.5 million;design is in progress and scheduled for completion in 2010.
What Will it Look Like?
Children’s Zoo and Wetlands Trail
(top left rendering)
This two-fold project includes a now complete revitalization of the our wetlands boardwalk, and construction of a brand new Children’s Zoo in what has served as the zoo’s dinosaur exhibit area. The Children's Zoo can be thought of as a “zoo within a zoo” where sensory experiences will help kids learn through the means that teach most effectively – touch, exploration and movement. Both the Wetlands Trail and the Children’s Zoo will incorporate hands-on play zones geared toward learning about our local environment and native species.
All Kids Can Tree House (bottom left rendering) Funded by
A major component of the Children’s Zoo will be the "All Kids Can," accessible tree house. The tree house, funded by a $500,000 grant from the CVS Caremark Charitable Trust, will be accessible to all the zoo's visitors, regardless of age or abilities, with the goal of enhancing their understanding of the natural world through play and exploration.
