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-99- Zoological Park and Front Royal Conservation Center The original 1973 Zoo Master Plan included forty-one projects at Rock Creek costing an estimated $118,000,000. Since then, the program has been scaled down to thirty projects and approximately $68,000,000 at the Zoo in Rock Creek and approximately $12,000,000 of work at the Conservation Center. This savings is due largely to the acquisition of the Front Royal site in 1975, which permitted a reevaluation of the Rock Creek development plan, eliminating many of the costly and space-consuming projects necessary for breeding and research. The revised plan recognized that many animals could be provided for at Front Royal at far less expense than at the Rock Creek Zoo. Master Plan projects that can more effectively be conducted at Front Royal will continue to be sited there. These include nearly all major hoof-stock breeding requirements, back-up housing for small primates and numbers of other small mammals, bird incubation and breeder functions, as well as holding facilities for long-term breeding programs. Central Area Redevelopment. Construction of the new Ape House is complete and it is expected to open to the public this fall. Renovation of the Reptile House, including a new nocturnal exhibit in the basement and an outside crocodile exhibit, is scheduled to be finished in February 1981. Renovation of the Small Mammal House is planned to be complete by July 1981. (These projects total about $4,300,000, appropriated in FY 1980.) Construction of Monkey Island (FY 1981 expected appropriation of $1,840,000) is to start in early spring 1981, and will require about one year for completion. Except for minor projects, redevelopment of the central exhibit area is complete. Aquatic Habitats. This exhibit includes six projects combined in location for purposes of common water-systems support. The FY 1980 request ($500,000) will complete final plans and specifications. Construction of the Aquatic Habitats Cluster is estimated to cost about $9,300,000 and will include major exhibits for the manatee, platypus, sea otters, coral reef, tidal basin, and related environments. The cluster will be located at the south end of the Park along Rock Creek, and will be an extension to the series of aquatic exhibits now being completed for beavers, river otters, seals, sea lions, and polar bears. This will be a unique education and exhibit facility. Plans and specifications are to be completed in FY 1981 and construction funds will be requested in FY 1982 ($6,000,000) and FY 1983 ($3,300,000). General Services and Parking Facility. Additional savings are anticipated by reducing the scope of the second-phase construction of the General Services and Parking Facility; $680,000 is being sought for desing and cost estimate purposes in FY 1985. The present estimate for construction of this facility is approximately $8,500,000 (1979 dollars). This estimate will be refined through the design process, and construction funds will be sought in FY 1986. The Institution plans to offset some construction expenses by using parking revenues being held in trust to help meet this need, which currently amount to approximately $900,000. By FY 1986, it is expected that about $2,000,000 will be available for this purpose.
