DETROIT (WWJ) - The Belle Isle Nature Center is set to open to the public after undergoing extensive renovations for the past two years, officials announced on Wednesday.
In a prepared statement, the Detroit Zoological Society said new programs and exhibits await the public when the state-of-the-art Belle Isle Nature Center officially reopens on Wednesday, Sept. 28.
“We are so proud of this new facility, and after more than two years of being closed, we are ready to show everyone what we have been working on,” said Amy Greene, nature centers director for the DZS. “We have so many new and exciting features for guests to explore.”
Officials said the facility has undergone "transformative renovations" since it was closed at the beginning of 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"These new experiences give visitors the opportunity to connect with nature – while also learning how to celebrate and save wildlife and wild places found in their own backyards and communities," officials added.
The society said the $2.5 million improvements to the facility will greatly enhance the guest experience, connect people with animals in the space that they share and enhance the welfare of the animals at the BINC.
Some of the upgrades -- as detailed by the society -- include:
• A major renovation of the entrance lobby, featuring reclaimed materials from the old Belle Isle Zoo
• A Sewer Tunnel Walk-Through allowing visitors to learn about and explore the areas where city infrastructure and wildlife intersect
• Expansive habitats for animals who call the BINC home, including turtles, mudpuppies, bullfrogs, snakes and urban woodland reptiles
• An expanded and upgraded Nature Play Area to continue BINC’s successful Nature Tots programming.
Please click here for a complete list of the BINC’s new interactive exhibits, displays and habits.
The Detroit Zoological Society serves its mission in humane education, wildlife conservation, animal welfare and environmental sustainability while operating the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center.
According to their website, the Belle Isle Nature Center sits on a 5-acre site on Belle Isle State Park in Detroit.
While entrance to the BINC remains free of charge, vehicles that enter Belle Isle State Park are required to have a Michigan Recreation Passport.
For hours, prices, directions and other information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit detroitzoo.org.