Cook County Forest Preserve District Board Hears Update on Brookfield Zoo Next Century Plan

Forest Preserve District of Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting
Thursday, September 9, 2025, 10:00 am Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL

Tony Preckwinkle called the meeting to order, roll was taken with 3 excused absences. A quorum was present. Pledge of Allegiance was said and the Land Acknowledgement was read. Brookfield Zoo was recognized by commissioners Aguilar and Moore. Benjamin Cox from Friends of the Forest Preserve was congratulated on receiving the Chicago Wilderness Forest and Nature Award. General Superintendent of Cook County Forest Preserve, Adam Bianchi gave a welcome statement.

CEO of Brookfield Zoo, Dr. Mike Adkesson, presented highlights and successes from the past year, The Next Century Plan and vision for the future. He discussed complimentary zoo access to military, school groups and low income residents of Cook County through partnerships with the Chicago Public library, Explore Illinois and Museums for All. In the first 3 months of the year they welcomed 31,000 guests through these partnerships (6% of attendance). He also highlighted the Health Wildlife Residency in partnership with University of Illinois, the Land Acknowledgement statement and community gatherings honoring Native Americans and youth programs.

Next Century Plan

• Phase 1- Building of the Bramsen Tropical Forest and Natural Habitat which includes 4 outdoor primate habitats and indoor gorilla conservation center. This was their largest project to date, cost $66 million from private funding, was completed in 2 1⁄2 years, on budget and on time. Includes 3 acres of space, forest for animals, conservation stories, sculptures and cell phone drop off. Sculptures were made from wire snares and built by ex-poachers in Uganda and the cell phone drop off will reduce and remind us mineral mining for lithium destroys gorilla habitats in the wild. The Bramsen addition also includes an indoor gorilla conservation space and the King Leadership space. $53 million was also utilized for renovation of the Seven Seas, investment in the temporary Ferris Wheel, North American Prairie Aviary, addition of Koalas, Hamill Family Play Zoo added honey bees and backyard chickens, formal pool area and swamp area were renovated and $2 million was spent on pavement improvements.
• Phase 2 - 35 acres will be developed into open savannah habitats for large African species including giraffes, zebra, and elephants. The Pacaderm building to be renovated along with spaces for African lions and hippos.

Dr. Matt Allender from the Department of Conservation Medicine and Science at Brookfield Zoo, gave an update regarding the Illinois Zoological and Wildlife Health Management Residency Program in collaboration with University of Illinois. He noted a nationwide shortage of wildlife veterinarians and was proud of their first resident to finish the program who will stay on in Cook County (Dr. Winter). This was the first program in the nation to train new vets in free ranging wildlife and save area wildlife. Cornell University is now the 2nd program modeled after the
Brookfield Zoo program. A second resident is currently in the program and a 3rd resident will begin in the summer.

Benjamin Cox from Friends of the Forest Preserve gave an update on the Conservation Core which he began in 2007 to introduce young people to the forest preserves and provide service opportunities. There have been 2500 alumni through partnership with the Forest Preserve and other organizations. He thanked the CCFP for supporting this program.

Members of the Conservation through Gardening program, which is a partnership between Brookfield Zoo and the Chicago communities of Englewood and Back of the Yards, thanked the Zoo for introducing the members of these communities to urban gardening. They described how children and residents learn about gardening, cooking with the fresh vegetables they had grown and the joy this brings.

All Committee items were approved including a grant project in collaboration with the Nature Conservancy to improve the ecological health of Powderhorn Lake and Eggers Grove. This includes 94 acres of habitat restoration. The grant was awarded for $225,000.

50 events are planned in the Forest Preserves between now and November. Refer to The Forest Preserve Fall Guide for further information (https://fpdcc.com/events/)

Observer - Linda Bareis