Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Abilene Zoo opens Caribbean Cove; director outlines 2026–27 Phase 1 Africa expansion
Summary
Zoo director presented completed accessibility upgrades to Caribbean Cove and outlined a multi-acre Africa expansion that would add paddocks, a two‑story cafe and accessible boardwalks, with construction targeted to break ground in early 2026 and openings in 2027.
Jesse Padabam, director of the Abilene Zoo, showed board members before-and-after photos of Caribbean Cove and described additional accessibility and exhibit upgrades planned at the zoo.
Padabam said Caribbean Cove, originally built about 12 years ago, received surface and circulation upgrades to improve ADA access. "We took up that cobblestone that does a lot of damage on strollers, and made a nice smooth concrete to allow people to easily access it," Padabam said. He described new concrete paths replacing caliche/granite surfaces, clearer viewing panels supplied by Corners Unlimited and an enlarged, shaded sandpit with an ADA ramp and an ADA-compliant digger for children.
Padabam said a grant…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
