The James Graham Brown Foundation has awarded an additional $2 million to the Louisville Zoo towards the completion of its upcoming Glacier Run addition.
The foundation has now donated more than $5 million towards the completion of Glacier Run, or nearly one-quarter of the $20.2 million raised by the zoo for the project.
"James Graham Brown was the first, original contributor to help fund a Zoo in Louisville, and the foundation that bears his name has been a longtime supporter. We are excited that the Foundation continues to invest in the Zoo’s programming and exhibits,’ said John Walczak, the director of the Louisville Zoo. "The James Graham Brown Foundation has once again acknowledged the Zoo’s value to the community and Commonwealth and the important role the Zoo plays in educating our youth."
The 39-year-old zoo, which exhibits more than 1,300 animals in their "naturalistic and mixed animal settings," according to its website, broke ground on Glacier Run in 2008. The new exhibit’s unique feature will recreate the natural habitats of polar bears, seals, sea lions, sea otters and sea eagles. It will also include a schoolhouse, general store and amphitheater in its "town."
While the pinniped and polar bear portions of the exhibit are scheduled to open in 2010 and 2011 respectively, the exhibit’s first three phases – the Australian Walkabout, Calistoga Splash Park at Glacier Run and Alice S. Etscorn Tiger Tundra exhibit – are already open.
Even with the donation, an additional $8.9 is still needed by the zoo to complete the project and secure an endowment. However, the zoo estimated that the completed project would increase the economic impact of the zoo to $33.6 million while adding over 400 new jobs to the region as well.