Englewood to move Bellevue Park zoo barn out of FEMA floodplain; design contract goes to council Sept. 15

Englewood Parks staff told the Sustainability Commission that the city plans to move the Bellevue Park zoo barn out of the FEMA-designated floodplain and begin design work after the City Council approves a design contract on Sept. 15.

The relocation follows a feasibility study that identified three potential sites in the park outside the floodplain, with a preferred site near Pirates Cove and the path to the area known as LB3. Adrian Torres, the city’s open space manager, said the feasibility work is complete and that the project remains in pre-design: "We're far from being ready to build," Torres said, and staff expect to begin design once the contract is approved.

Why it matters: much of Bellevue Park lies inside FEMA-mapped flood zones and a federally defined floodway. City staff said the floodway limits what can be built or placed in that area; improvements or additions to existing structures can trigger federal requirements that force relocation or major retrofits. Moving the barn would allow the city to add accessible routes and other facilities without the legal and engineering constraints that apply inside the floodway.

Key details

- Budget: Parks staff said the Bellevue project budget is $9,000,000. The feasibility study cost roughly $180,000; staff estimated design costs will be about $700,000, leaving an approximate working construction budget in…