Zoo Brno plans to build a new entrance for 241 million, which will also include a footbridge.

Brno - The Brno Zoo is planning to build a new entrance in addition to the renovation of the traditional one. It will include a footbridge over Ondrova Street. The entrance will consist of two separate buildings with green roofs. The first will house ticketing and souvenirs, while the second will be for gastronomy. The expected cost for the construction of the entire new entrance is approximately 241 million, said Deputy Mayor Filip Chvátal (KDU-ČSL) in a press release. The zoo on Mniší Hora covers an area of 65 hectares and houses around 2,200 animals of 400 species.

The investment plan also includes the construction of a parking lot with 290 spaces, which will be located in the southern part of the property, furthest from the buildings. "A condition is that the area will be maximally landscaped with greenery and trees. A pedestrian footbridge over Ondrova Street will be part of the complex. It will end below the path leading to the polar bear exhibit. An elevator should also be available. The cost for the footbridge will be 27 million crowns excluding tax," Chvátal stated. Brno is currently preparing a procurement procedure to select a designer who will prepare documentation for the entire Dolní Louky area. In addition to the new entrance, housing for seniors and a kindergarten for the city district will also be created there.

Representatives of the zoo consider the new entrance to be one of the most significant needs. "The construction of the footbridge and embedding it into the slope below the path to the polar bear enclosure will increase the comfort of visitor movement and provide barrier-free access from the entrance to the level that allows comfortable movement along only slightly undulating contours. The footbridge will emerge in a location beyond the largest elevation," said zoo spokesperson Věra Müllerová to ČTK.

Related to the new entrance is also the modification of the immediate surroundings, where two exhibits will be created. One will focus on penguins and the other on wetlands. A retention basin will also be constructed there to minimize the risk of flooding in case of excessive rainfall. "The new entrance, the penguin exhibit, and the wetlands are three independent projects that are interconnected. Once completed, they will significantly enhance the entrance to the zoo, collectively creating the first impression for every visitor. However, it is not possible to specify when this will happen. It depends on the timelines for project completion and whether these investments continue to be a priority for the city," Müllerová added.

The zoo also plans to modify the main entrance, where an area for bus stops and parking spaces will be created, along with new bike racks. Work could start as early as this year. The estimated costs for the modifications are 70.5 million crowns.