Rosamond Gifford Zoo

A zoo is more than a place to see animals—it is a valuable community asset that brings people together through education, recreation, conservation, and a shared appreciation for wildlife. Thoughtfully designed zoos provide opportunities for families, students, and visitors to connect with nature while supporting environmental awareness and inspiring a greater understanding of the world’s diverse species. As community destinations, they can also contribute to local tourism, economic vitality, and a strong sense of civic pride.

At the heart of a successful zoo, however, are the animals themselves. Adequate exhibit spaces and thoughtfully designed habitats are essential to their health, safety, and wellbeing, providing appropriate opportunities for movement, enrichment, shelter, and species-specific behaviors. Careful site and landscape design can balance these needs with an engaging visitor experience, creating habitats that feel natural and enriching while allowing guests to observe and learn.

Primate Park

• Redesign of the original exhibit with an enclosed, supported netting system.
• Perimeter consisting of fencing and native plantings, which serves as rain garden.
• Exhibit features include varied topography, boulders, swinging vines and ropes, landscaped with native grass and plant material. A simulated rock water feature with waterfalls and nearby simulated “heated rocks” provide additional interest and use for primates.
• Portions of the original exhibit retaining wall were saved and incorporated into the design to provide a “relic” appearance.
• Most of the exhibit perimeter allows for public viewing, including a unique viewing tunnel constructed as a geological rock formation to allow visitors access into the exhibit space for a closer look at the primates.
• Arched bridge between existing pond and original exhibit has been replaced with a new bridge designed for circulation and exhibit viewing.
• The existing courtyard was redesigned to include the replacing of plant material and improving pavement conditions. Replacement trees planted in specially prepared “structural soil” trenches with overflow underdrains provide proper root growth and stability for vehicle traffic.
• Portions of the pavement surface above the structural soil replaced with a porous pavement material, allowing storm water to be absorbed back into the earth rather than running into storm drains.
• A new cistern/rain barrel with educational panels.

Waterfowl Pond Maintenance System

• This system was developed to alleviate issues surrounding the waterfowl pond maintenance.
• A recirculation system was designed to avoid the need for the 105,000 gallon pond to be drained biweekly and dumped to the sanitary system.
• The new system continually pumps the waterfowl pond water to an upper level in the zoo with an outflow designed to be a cascade waterfall to a wetland pond.
• The cascade aerates the water and the wetland aids in settling out suspended solids. This wetland plantings aid in cleansing the water as a primary treatment.
• The water then flows through a series of small cascades to a reed bed.
• The reed bed plantings plus beneficial bacteria in the planting medium further cleanse the water prior to flowing back into the waterfowl pond. The reed bed essentially provides secondary treatment of the water.
• Interpretive signage explains how the system works as a natural process for cleansing water.

Event Terrace

• Design of a new outdoor events terrace adjacent to the existing banquet/conference facility.
• Grading and drainage improvements, landscaping and lighting, and various amenities to provide a multi-functional and aesthetically pleasing environment.

Elephant Pool

• Prime consultant for design of a new elephant pool meeting AZA Standards.
• Exhibit includes a shallow pool and a deep pool to accommodate different ages and preferences in the elephant herd.
• Multiple gently sloped entries for safety, a potable drinker for the elephants, and a waterfall and artificial rockwork boulders for a naturalistic appearance.
• Life Support System to filter and recirculate the pool water.
• New overlook deck for enhanced viewing from public side of the exhibit.
• Green infrastructure practices are being incorporated for on-site storage and infiltration of storm water runoff and pool wastewater.