Located at the edge of the expanded duck pond, the Family Centre is intended to blend into its surroundings, sitting in visual harmony with its landscape. The Family Centre will become the heart of the park and serve as a beautiful gathering spot and assembly space for family events, parties and children's activities. The space will include a lounge, activity room and classroom, each enveloped by the expanse of the forest. The restaurant and Winnie the Bear exhibit will overlook a new public plaza and the duck pond.

Assiniboine Park is a place where the natural world is enjoyed and celebrated by all Winnipeggers. This is sure to become another revered space in the park.

The Assiniboine Park Zoo of tomorrow will keep what is good from the old zoo and create something dramatically new and exciting. While the uncluttered, park-like atmosphere of the Zoo will remain, the visiting public will be treated to natural habitats including the boreal forest area, the arctic and our prairie home and the diversity of animals in the vast area of Asia. But that is really only a small part of the changes to occur at the Assiniboine Park Zoo.

The orientation of the Zoo will change so that public entry will be through an inviting new complex off of Corydon Avenue, with a themed restaurant that will be available to the public even when the zoo is closed for the night. This will make the Zoo more easily accessible and reduce vehicular traffic in the centre of the Park.

The Zoo will be a more visible and active contributor to environmental and wildlife education, research, and conservation in Manitoba. The commitment to conservation will be clearly evident as the new education campus takes root.

The Kinsmen Discovery Centre will form a part of this education campus and host a walk-through animal contact area. Also bordering the education campus will be the International Polar Bear Conservation Centre (IPBCC) that will provide information to the public about the arctic environment and polar bear conservation. It will also help to coordinate education and conservation / research programs internationally. The centre will actively participate in and help coordinate a rescue program for orphaned polar bears in Canada and internationally, insuring that these precious animals are conditioned to our care and that their final home is committed to their long-term well-being.

The Arctic exhibit area will form the other boundary to the education campus with muskox and caribou, arctic fox, and snowy owls that surround a world class polar bear exhibit including inside, underwater viewing and a range of other viewing opportunities.

Our primates and some new species will be housed in an expansive and very comfortable and entertaining new home that will feature many rare and endangered species from Asia, including leopards, red pandas, otters, reptiles, and birds.

New to the Zoo will be a heavy horse barn and paddocks. These large draft horses will be harness trained and will be used to draw wagons and sleighs for alternate transportation within the park and for special events. The barns will be open to the public and people will have the opportunity to watch as the animals are cared-for, trained, and worked.

Clearly there is an unparalleled, exciting transformation in store for Manitobans and visitors alike, as we realize a new and much improved vision for the Assiniboine Park Zoo!

A newly constructed Conservatory will be a signature piece of architecture for the city. It will house a world of plants that tell the story of how living ecosystems sustain our health and well-being. There will be four distinct areas in the Conservatory.

The Rainforest of tropical plants will feature rocks and waterfalls, and will allow visitors to experience the areas from the ground, as well as an elevated level. The Mediterranean will tell the story of plant adaptation, housing warm temperate and desert and dry region plants and crops.

The Floral Display Glass House will be used for changing exhibits that highlight a geographic region, ethnic or regional event, holiday or celebration, and seasonal displays of flowering plants. A small teahouse will be integrated into this area. A unique event space designed to accommodate up to 400 people and serve multiple purposes such as wedding ceremonies, company Christmas parties, business meetings, conferences, and workshops will also be integrated in the Conservatory.

Developed specifically for youth between the ages of 12 and 20, this area of the Park could feature such activities as basketball courts and a climbing wall. It will provide a social gathering place, including a food concession. The youth recreation area will also have an Aerial Adventure Park, featuring an obstacle course with zip lines, suspended bridges, net gangways, and tight ropes, all 5 to 15 metres from the ground.

The Park will develop major walkways linking key attractions and areas, while emphasizing pedestrian routes. It will be easy to move from the parking lot to footpaths, which will be landscaped with trees, shrubs, and flowers in keeping with the Park’s overall appearance. The existing network of pedestrian and cyclist pathways, trails, and monkey trails will be enhanced and throughout the path system there will be dedicated areas for entertainment, casual buskers, food services, and displays. There will also be enhanced parking, with a greater number of parking spots located closer to the exhibits.

The Park will also have a people mover system of trolleys or carts to provide an alternate means of moving between destinations, with attractive stopping stations with shelters, signage, and seating.

We want the Park’s future vision to reflect the interests and needs of Winnipeggers. Have your say today, with the Assiniboine Park Perspectives panel.

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