Wayne County Zoological Authority hears operations update; Discovery Trails expected spring–summer 2026

At a meeting of the Wayne County Zoological Authority, Robert Shoemaker, vice president of finance and chief financial officer of the Detroit Zoo, and Dr. Amanda Hanlon, chief of staff, delivered a report on zoo operations including attendance figures, new animal arrivals, educational programming, community partnerships and construction progress on the Discovery Trails project.

The zoo finished 2024 “with just north of 1,200,000 in total attendance,” Hanlon said, marking the third straight year at about 1.2 million visitors as the institution continues to recover from the pandemic. Hanlon said the zoo had “more than 42,000 member households” (down from about 50,000 pre-pandemic) and cited an economic impact figure of about $168,000,000 from a 2023 study.

The presentation covered animal highlights: the zoo now houses more than 2,000 animals representing 258 resident species. Hanlon noted recent additions including a new lion, Kalu; Motema, described as the zoo’s first baby gorilla born in nearly a century; and a third polar bear, Haley. “Motema has been out and about. She’s kind of gaining her independence,” Hanlon said.

Education and community programming were central to the update. The zoo reported about 153,000 educational program participants in 2024 and said it runs partnerships and weekly after‑school programming across Wayne County, including with the Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan, school programming in Highland Park, and scholarships for camps through Great Start Wayne. The zoo again hosted Tri‑County Green Schools (Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties), drawing about 1,200 K–12 students for a day of celebrations.

Belle Isle Nature Center programming served more than 100,000 visitors last year, Hanlon said, including roughly 7,000 toddlers and caregivers through the zoo’s “zoo tots” program and more than 2,000 participants in special events. Senior engagement grew as well: the authority heard that a free senior day in May drew about 3,000 attendees and that the zoo staffed an information presence at the Wayne County Senior Fun Fest on June 14, which organizers estimated had about 3,500 seniors in attendance.

The zoo continues specialized community events: Dream Night (a preregistered, capped night for families with children facing chronic or terminal illness) was capped at 1,000 attendees this year and had a wait list of 650; nocturnal adventures are hosted privately for partner organizations serving people experiencing or leaving domestic abuse or human trafficking situations, with partners named in the presentation including COTS, Mac Development and First Step.

On sustainability and accessibility, Hanlon reported the zoo collected more than 85 tons of electronics—filling nine tractor‑trailers—through its annual community electronics recycling program, three times the prior year’s haul. Accessibility offerings include sensory‑friendly hours, participation in the Culture City program (kits with items such as noise‑canceling headphones), and a free app described in the presentation as “ReBoca,” which the speaker said provides visual enhancements and contrast/color adjustments for visitors with visual impairments.

The authority also heard a construction update on Discovery Trails, described as a 7.5‑acre immersive experience. Shoemaker and Hanlon said most underground infrastructure and initial earthwork were completed late in the previous year and that above‑ground structures are now visible on site. Hanlon said one vendor originally contracted for the tree‑crossing work encountered problems during construction; staff said they mobilized a replacement contractor and work has resumed. The authority was given a target opening of spring to summer 2026, with the caveat that construction schedules can change.

Fundraising highlights included the annual Sunset event; staff reported gross proceeds of about $500,000 from the one‑night fundraiser and a silent auction that raised over $90,000, described as a record for that auction.

No board action was required on the operational update; the commission moved to the next agenda item after the presentation.

Ending: Authority members thanked staff for the report and indicated they look forward to a future presentation when Discovery Trails is complete.