Treetop Trail at the Minnesota Zoo

Location

Apple Valley, MN
United States

Project Size
21.6 acres
Project type
Open space - Park
Site Context
Suburban
Former Land Use
Previously Developed
Terrestrial Biome
Boreal forest
Project overview

The Minnesota Zoo opened in 1978 as one of the first zoos to organize exhibits by habitat rather than species. Originally named the “Minnesota Zoological Garden,” this progressive zoo was designed to view animals in naturalistic, outdoor, garden-like settings analogous to their ecological and geographic environments of origin. This design included a 1.25-mile-long monorail ride that looped throughout the expansive 485-acre grounds, elevated up to 32-feet above grade to view the surrounding exhibits. The monorail was decommissioned in 2013 due to rising maintenance costs, leaving the steel and concrete infrastructure intact but unused. The idea to transform it into The Treetop Trail was conceived by the zoo director, John Frawley, after a visit to the High Line in NYC. It was a unique opportunity for the Minnesota Zoo to strengthen their overall mission, which is to “connect people, animals, and the natural world to save wildlife” and to do so through an adaptive reuse project that is inherently sustainable.

SITES certification was a primary goal established at the project's inception. The Treetop Trail's design, construction, and intended use directly connect to the conservation and observation of the surrounding landscape and wildlife. Because this project represents a unique typology with no prior SITES certification precedent, the design team, construction team, and Minnesota Zoo collaborated with GBCI to define a path to achieve SITES Silver certification.

The Treetop Trail has successfully achieved the overarching goal of bringing Minnesota Zoo visitors closer to the natural world. Its accessible design offers an elevated, direct perspective of the region's diverse ecosystems. This achievement rests upon adherence to SITES standards, which safeguarded these ecosystems through innovative construction strategies, thoughtful material choices, integrated stormwater control, and the revitalization of native plant communities. Intentionally placed interpretive features along the trail deepen the educational experience and encourage people to slow down to observe and enjoy the surrounding sounds and views.

“The Minnesota Zoo has the unique distinction of being the fifth largest zoo in the country, with nearly 500 acres of land comprised mostly of undeveloped forest and wetlands,” said Minnesota Zoo Director John Frawley. “The Treetop Trail at the Minnesota Zoo is a marquee feature that connects people to nature and wildlife throughout our grounds. Given the Zoo’s steadfast mission to connect people, animals, and the natural world to save wildlife, SITES certification was an important element to guide our development of this major reuse initiative, ensuring we kept our conservation mission at the forefront of this project.”

Project team:

Photo credit: Corey Gaffer