A Place for New Connections

By Karen Dybis, Contributing Writer

With Discovery Trails, the Detroit Zoo will focus on a guest-friendly, immersive environment where all are welcome, offering the latest in accessibility and sustainability practices as well as providing state-of-the-art animalhabitats that focus on animal well-being as a priority.

The Zoo announced plans for Discovery Trails on Oct. 22, and the positive reactions throughout the community have reflected the excitement about having a new destination where guests can explore, learn, play and relax, says Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) Executive Director and CEO Dr. Hayley Murphy. The newest expansion in the Zoo’s long history is scheduled to open in 2026.

“We wanted to create a place within the Zoo that can be used by all of our community, a place to come together and experience the positive impact that animals can have on our lives,” Murphy says. “This is an amazing undertaking when you look at the diversity of activities and educational opportunities available. This is really going to be a destination.”

Developing the habitats, guest experiences and features of Discovery Trails was a collaborative effort, Murphy says.

“We listened to every voice during the design process and asked the community what they wanted and needed — it was a great coming together of minds, allowing every level of expertise and discipline across the Zoo, and our community, to work together,” she says. “The message that kept coming through was we wanted Discovery Trails to be fun, energizing and a place where we can create those connections between people and animals, building empathy and a sense of wonder about the natural world.”

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

The 7-acre site along the southwest corridor of the Zoo will include up-close animal encounters, diverse educational experiences, accessible trails and guest areas as well as expansive habitats for new and returning species.

For example, Zoo favorites such as the prairie dogs, bush dogs, miniature donkeys and giant anteaters will receive updated spaces and be joined by newcomers, including alpacas, burrowing owls, stingrays and bamboo sharks.

The immersive animal experiences feature a tank where guests can feed and touch stingrays as well as a barnyard where guests can feed chickens and brush goats.

Rain gardens throughout Discovery Trails will demonstrate the Zoo’s commitment to sustainability and help educate the public about fl ood and water runoff remediation as well as climate change.

The Canopy Trail is another way to build appreciation for nature. With a bird’s-eye view 14 feet off the ground, guests will have a wider lens from which they can see their place in the world and how animal environments are an essential part of that.

SENSORY EXPERIENCES

In Discovery Trails, the Zoo sought to create a balance between spaces where guests can deeply engage with their fi ve senses while also offering quieter spots for recharging or thoughtful contemplation, says Dr. De’Andrea Matthews, the DZS’s vice president of diversity and community engagement.

“Some people are sensory seekers while others have sensitivity challenges. We wanted to respect that spectrum,” Matthews says. “The Senses Trail will include a narrative that allows people to decide in advance if they want to smell or touch a particular plant. They can plan in advance to go down another path if they want a different experience.”

Matthews says she also is proud that Discovery Trails will show how the Zoo has researched and implemented new accessibility options in key areas. For example, the family restrooms will have universal changing stations, allowing caregivers to address the needs of younger children as well as older adults through height-adjustable tables. This is something Matt hews herself appreciated as a caregiver for her parents, so having this option in Discovery Trails is key to supporting everyone who visits.

ROOM TO LEARN

Another special aspect of Discovery Trails is its educational components, says DZS Vice President of Education Diane Miller. The DZS education team deeply researches the ways they engage guests in learning, adding in the secret sauce of entertaining and enlightening people of all ages as they walk through the site.

“One of the ways you know people are engaged is through the conversations they are having, so we created experiences that encourage people to talk and share stories,” Miller says.

Signs found throughout Discovery Trails will ask guests to slow down and really observe each animal, Miller says. Questions posted about an animal’s size will help the Zoo’s youngest guests start to learn the language of mathematics while relating to that animal with curiosity and empathy.

“Another educational opportunity is in the Farmers’ Market. You will go to the market to get food for a goat or chicken, and we’ll ask you to weigh out the food. It’s fun for kids, and it’s a simple way to learn to read, do mathematics and practice new skills,” Miller says.

Discovery Trails is estimated to cost more than $20 million, with most of the funds coming from gift s and grants. Simultaneously, Discovery Trails is projected to increase the Zoo’s regional economic impact to $185 million annually, increase Zoo visitation and membership by 12 percent and 11 percent, respectively, and bring an additional 13,000 children via school fi eld trips each year.

For more information and updates as Discovery Trails construction takes shape, visit dzoo.org/discoverytrails.