The $80.5 million investment of state economic development dollars in the Finger Lakes region announced last week includes funding for the planned expansion of the Seneca Park Zoo.
The zoo drafted a Master Plan in 2015 with the hope that it will be a regional tourist destination within the next 10 years.
The first phase of construction is due to start early in the New Year.
Seneca Park Zoo Society executive director Pamela Reed Sanchez says this latest round of funding from the state - $1 million - will pay for visitor amenities such as a giraffe feeding experience, a new restaurant, and a trolley.
"The idea that we need a trolley to address the long, linear layout of the zoo has been on our minds for a long time, and this new funding will allow us to do that," she said.
Previous state funding will help the zoo create exhibits for snow leopards, red pandas, and zebras. But Reed Sanchez says one species in particular should prove to be a favorite with zoo visitors.
"All of these surveys we've done over the years, we say 'what's the number one animal you'd love to see us bring to the zoo?’ It's always 'giraffes, giraffes, giraffes,' so to be able to say to people 'yes, giraffes will be here by 2018 and there will be opportunities for the public to feed them', it's a really wonderful thing for our community to invest in."
In addition to bond funding from Monroe County, the project will rely heavily on private donations.
The Seneca Park Zoo Society hopes to raise $20 million by 2021.