After nearly a decade in the making, the Fred and Barbara Erb Discovery Trails are officially open at the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak, thrilling visitors with new animals and a plethora of unique playground spaces and interactive experiences.
Detroit Zoological Society Executive Director and CEO Dr. Hayley Murphy called the seven-acre, $49 million project a “new zoo within the zoo,” emphasizing the attention to detail that makes it colorful, vibrant, and inclusive and accessible to all.
“Families will come in and find a fun and engaging place,” she said. “We want everyone to come and enjoy this space.”
Following a ribbon cutting on May 22, parents and children of all ages began doing just that, exploring a multitude of pathways that led to various delights, including a stingray cove, where visitors could pet not only two species of stingrays, southern and cownose, but also two species of bamboo sharks, white-spotted and brown-banded. These are animals never before seen at the Detroit Zoo, and they evoked plenty of excitement.
“I got 13!” Maxim Nannini, 5, told his mother, Lisa Nannini of Macomb Township, after he touched yet another of the creatures that he described as soft and smooth. “It’s fun!”
His older sister, Melody, 6 1/2, was not to be outdone, saying she had pet 23. There were 40 animals total in the pool, which was surrounded by children and adults alike, some of whom were feeding the stingrays sardines and shrimp for an extra fee.
In a barnyard area, which features a “Farmer’s market” interactive play area geared toward young children, more familiar animals could be found, including chickens, miniature donkeys and alpacas. In a separate goat enclosure, visitors could pet and brush the playful animals, which romped on elevated platforms.More animal exhibits are coming soon at the Erb Discovery Trails, including new burrowing owls, returning prairie dogs, anteaters, and a family of five bush dogs, which includes two pups born on Mother’s Day who are not quite ready to meet the public.
The Erb Discovery Trails also feature plenty of gathering spaces and expansive play structures, including a “canopy trail,” with overhead moving sections, a “treetop crossing” with slides, platforms, and climbing nets, and the “Little Sprouts” area, specially made for toddlers.
The vibe is very park-like and appreciated by Heather England, the Huntington Woods mother of Bennett 1, who doesn’t yet know the difference between a dog and a camel.
“It’s a place where Bennett can run around, and he will grow with it,” England said. “We’re here once a week, and we’re so excited. We’ve been eagerly awaiting this for two years. It’s a place where he can be safe and meet other kids and be outside.”
Planning for the Erb Discovery Trails dates back to 2017, Murphy said, with a delay due to the pandemic. The project was named in honor of Fred and Barbara Erb, who were lifelong southeast Michigan residents, owners of Erb Lumber, and philanthropists. The Erb Family Foundation donated $6 million for the Discovery Trails at the zoo.
“My parents would be so proud,” said Leslie Erb Liedtke with a smile as she gazed in wonder at the new additions to the zoo. “We wanted to do something that would have an impact in a thoughtful and meaningful way. This is a wonderful space.”
Contact reporter Susan Bromley at sbromley@hometownlife.com
This article originally appeared on Hometownlife.com: Detroit Zoo opens $49 million, 7-acre Erb Discovery Trails
Reporting by Susan Bromley, Hometownlife.com / Hometownlife.com
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