New plans for the Chattanooga Zoo

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Various members of the community came together Tuesday for Chattanooga’s weekly City Council Meeting. As many important topics were discussed, one topic of interest was the passing of the new expansion plan for the Chattanooga Zoo and Friends of the Zoo Incorporated.  

 The Chattanooga Zoo is planning to add the 19,296 square foot indoor complex that is currently being occupied by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Softball Team. 

As the indoor facility is situated right outside the zoo’s property, the facility will be a beneficial asset for the expansion of the zoo not only for the location of the building but also the size. 

The UTC indoor facility has been in use since 2008 and was once one of the nation’s most premier indoor practice environments featuring a regulation size infield, batting cages and pitching areas.

Chris Houser, the Director of Exhibits and Maintenance for the Chattanooga Zoo, stated that the zoo’s “first plan is to build a new animal hospital. You know all of our recent growth. We’ve outgrown our current hospital. We’re managing with limited space, so the first plan is to build a new state of the art animal hospital.”