PARAMUS, N.J. — Van Saun Zoo, also knows as the Bergen County Zoo, has unveiled a new master plan that lays out an ambitious vision for the Bergen County attraction, including new animal habitats, new species and a conservation education center over the next five to seven years.
The Storybook Master Plan, developed with Relevant Strategies & Solutions, is intended to guide projects that will be advanced individually as the county secures funding, partnerships, sponsorships and other approvals.
Among the biggest proposed changes are a new Andean condor habitat featuring a 29-foot-high aviary, the introduction of red pandas and a new habitat for spider monkeys and capybaras.
The plan also calls for:
A relocated and expanded Bergen Dutch Barn and Farmyard with more space for animals and new opportunities for keeper presentations and hands-on learning
A future white rhino savannah with multiple viewing areas, including views from the Zoo train
A new Conservation Education Center with classrooms, auditorium space, expanded animal programming and an event venue overlooking the proposed rhino savannah
The red panda exhibit would feature two interconnected outdoor habitats with elevated passages, specialized denning areas and climate-controlled holding spaces.
The proposed spider monkey and capybara habitat would give spider monkeys significantly more space for climbing and exploration while bringing capybaras back to the Zoo.
The Andean condor habitat is already in the design and engineering phase.
Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco called the plan an “ambitious vision” for one of the county’s best-known destinations, saying it is designed to build on the Zoo’s history while improving animal care and the visitor experience.
Commissioner Chairman Steven Tanelli said the plan provides a roadmap for creating new experiences while building on what visitors already enjoy.
The plan also emphasizes conservation. The Zoo currently supports conservation efforts involving American bison and critically endangered red wolves and participates in several Association of Zoos and Aquariums SAFE programs, including those focused on monarch butterflies, red wolves and North American bison.
The Zoo also works with outside organizations on conservation initiatives involving horseshoe crabs, amphibians and other wildlife.
Acting Bergen County Parks Director Craig Dorsett said the plan gives the Zoo a framework for its next phase of development, with animal well-being, conservation, education and the visitor experience at the center of the proposed projects.
The Storybook Master Plan does not commit the county to building every project outlined in the document. Individual concepts will move forward as planning, design, funding and required approvals are completed.
The Zoo at Van Saun is located inside Van Saun County Park in Paramus and serves as a destination for animal conservation, environmental education and family recreation.
