BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — The Brevard County Zoo will soon get some new additions based on a proposed project.
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The zoo released renderings of a new aquarium and conservation campus that will be built along the Indian River Lagoon.
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The nearly $100 million project would attract thousands of visitors, create hundreds of jobs and serve as a hub for research efforts.
“A major addition that we’ve added is a design for a manatee critical care facility, which is badly needed on the east coast of Florida,” said Keith Winsten, executive director of Brevard Zoo.
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The Canaveral Port Authority has approved the development agreement and ground lease for the 14-acre site on the Banana River.
Winsten said he believes the project will be a major economic push for east Central Florida.
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“The prediction is that it would end up leading to over 900 jobs, probably $80 [to] $90 million of economic impact,” he said.
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The campus will also serve as a hub for restoration and research efforts along the Indian River Lagoon.
So far, fundraising has reached its halfway mark with more than $47 million raised in grants and private donations.
The groundbreaking ceremony is set for September 2024.
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