Overall I like the overall boldness of the design. I had feared a lackluster south-campus – limited to overflow parking, administrative offices and maybe an education center. Worse yet, I feared that any land freed up by moving facilities across the highway would be turned into more paid parking spots. I was pleased to see the total elimination of the south parking, especially since they just finished putting $$$ into redoing that entrance. Moreover, I’m surprised to see elimination of any of the north parking lot – even if some of it is for the gondola landing pad. They are either being progressive or showing how desperate for land they are. I like the idea of partnering with a hotel, and agree with this forum that even higher density residential or office could be had.
When, previosuly, I mentioned “change their relationship to the region” I was hoping a more cooperative overarching vision with other regional institutitons. The zoo is the most ‘world class’ attraction that we have, and I think the most popular (more than even the cardinals in terms of visitors) and has the most political/fund raising pull. But I agree, even with new Elephant and riverwalk, sea lions etc…. their status has dropped some. To succeed to the next level (san diego level) they probably need to start more cooperation with cultural institutions. They already lost opportunity for a common parking facility with SLAM. I picture non-animal exhibits about science-y animal related stuff by the SLSC at the zoo (biology? Genetic engineering sponsored by Monsanto etc); gardening and landscaping done by MOBOT (get registered as another botanical garden), animal artwork but contemporary art museum and SLAM, small aviary at MoBOT run by the zoo, transportation museum exhibit with the railroad, magic house helping with Children’s Zoo etc. They could have (maybe did?) offered to share cost of/use of office building on south campus for administrative tasks. This could have freeing up valuable space at all these land-locked institutions. Just general cooperation beyond the already nice taxing district shared funds. As far as public perception – as I mentioned, they are top notch in the region and would like them to become top notch (with San Diego type facilities) in the world. This is their opportunity to do so. Other thoughts:
1) Metered only-parking on Government Dr. and Wells Dr..
2) As for the (smaller) North lot… limit it to busses and VIP parking – and make it a ’covered at grade’ garage similar to Kemper Art Museum (KC). I love their water filled skylights above the garage – makes the light very cool. New space above garage = new exhibit space… maybe a good place to see an animal from below?. Or with an ever expanding elephant herd, maybe a much expanded pen.
3) At the new south campus, there is a need to minimize people queuing onto Hampton waiting to pay. I suggest the removal of the 350’ stretch of Clayton from Berthold to Hampton. On what is now Berthold/Hampton intersection, resign/reconfigure with two right-only lanes (south-bound) leading directly into parking structure. Do similar for exits, 2x left turn lanes onto NB Hampton and possibly a reversible center lane for beginning/end of day just like some theme parks. Whole point
4) – and/or – have a ‘main’ entrance into garage directly from EB I-64 (no need to get onto Hampton at all). Double lane the “Oakland Ave East” spur; signed “Zoo Parking”, before going under Hampton, branch off into a right-in-entrance-only lane directly into subgrade level of garage (below grade at Oakland – no signal needed). A 2nd entrance (and only garage exit) would exit onto local streets. I assume well over 50% of people come from the west on I-64, so this could help local traffic a lot (unless you want to dump them onto local streets in the hope of local patronage).
5) For the love of GOD please no surface parking on the south campus, with the possible exception of a very few short term parking spaces next to any ‘neighborhood’ shops (whatever you perceive that to be). Access to the site (both transit and car) is very good, density is key.
6) The new attraction on the south campus should be a destination unto itself … that is something that can attract visitors as a standalone trip. I would suggest relocating the children’s zoo there. It already stands out at the zoo as it’s a pay exhibit. I think having the children’s zoo next to the parking structure and the turtle playground would be very popular. Plus the area it occupies is such prime real estate – it can be used to expand Rivers Edge very easily or maybe a new exhibit all together.
7) Nix Gondola, not because I’m on an anti-gondola crusade or perceive a nefarious gondola lobby… but because we already have an iconic and ‘alternative’ mode of transportation at the zoo – The Emerson Zooline Railroad. Take the proposed pedestrian bridge idea and make it anything but ‘pedestrian’.
. Use this basic layout, but expand the bridge to a 200 - 300' wide ‘park-over-highway’. Run the Railroad down one side (see #8), and on the other put a bike/multi use trail connecting to existing pedestrian infrastructure per that image. Down the middle, place a landscaped meandering path with Cassily style animal sculptures (interactive/climbable) … an extension of turtle park. Have the bridge start one level above Oakland and terminate at a new Grand Entrance Plaza, including main Entrance to zoo (where Sea Lion building was, near Big Cat Country and Historic Hill). Besides the Zoo Entrance and bridge, there should also be a transit stop (BRT/busses/FP Trolley), visitor information (about other cultural attractions etc), and another exhibit entrance, one to whatever attraction is placed over the existing south lot (my suggestion - #10).
South Campus would also be awesome with a family friendly destination hotel – a Great Wolf Lodge-type hotel/waterpark would work great here. It would attract people, especially during winter when the Zoo parking wouldn’t be that full anyway. The indoor water park portion of the Kansas City (KS) location is roughly 250’ x 250’. I don’t know how flexible those layouts are, or if you can put hotel floors above the water park, but that size would fit in the ‘pocket’ bounded by Clayton, Oakland and Hampton (across Hampton from Imo’s). Put 6+ floors of rooms above and you have as many rooms as KC’s location. Parking could utilize the adjacent zoo garage, rooms could even come with train ticket to zoo (See #9). Residential component would be nice, and is probably in demand, but the midrise uber modern residential development belongs (IMHO on the southern and western extremities of the project. Anything facing I-64 and Hampton should be geared toward visitors and zoo operations/administration (in a mid/high rise building) as much as possible.
9) Past the south entrance station there is a portion or track (behind snake building) heading toward the highway. Extend this section of track over what is now the south parking lot, it nicely meets up with the northwest corner of the south campus lot. Instead of having the train run behind the snaked and monkeys, it could continue straight (uphill grade to get over highway), go across bridge (mentioned in #7) over I-64 and Oakland (in a double track configuration) to the south campus station (within the 2nd or 3rd floor of the parking garage – similar to Disney Monorail picking you up at the Transportation Center). The train has a 150’ turning radius (guess) which would allow it to maneuver around the south campus. It could either pull a 180 within the garage, and go back across the I-64 pedestrian bridge OR it turn east (parallel to Berthold Ave), stop within the hotel (overlooking water park), then it can head across the bridge (just another WOW! Factor). After crossing I-64 and relocated Wells Drive, it would descend and veer northeast, go below grade (under the new grand entrance plaza) and meet up with the existing tunnel just prior to the Big Cat Country Station. The big cat country station might be relocated 200’ south to be directly incorporated into the Grand Entrance Plaza.
10) I think the South Parking Lot real estate is too valuable to waste on a safari exhibit … safari animals already have a presence so there would be nothing new added, no new draw. I’m just saying Shed or Georgia Aquarium’s footprint fits easily within the site (per google sketchup). Or make a tropical dome (bigger version of Climatron). Something indoors (open in more weather) and NEW – both in STL and possibly the US. And with my railroad transit idea (#9), to get from current ‘South entrance’ to the new south campus you’d need to have the train run through where the aquarium (or whatever) would be. It would be easy to not only have a station inside the aquarium (next to ticketing as I assume it would be a pay attraction), but you could also run the train through a tunnel surrounded by water (similar to sea lion sound pedestrian tunnel mixed with the Jimi Hendrix Museum in Seattle monorail tunnel). Add in a huge glass wall facing I-64 so people stuck in traffic can watch a whale? Talk about unique cultural experience!
So in any case – my fantasy would include an expanded zoo, new world class aquarium, new children’s zoo and an indoor waterpark all connected by ‘transit’ with truly world class flare… I know it’s not feasible, but some of the basic ideas it can be used. I just jotted this down after work…. Cobbling together random thoughts I’ve had since last night… hopefully it makes some sense.
