ZooTampa could receive up to $75 million from Hillsborough County over the next 15 years under a deal commissioners will consider Wednesday to help fund a $150 million expansion and renovation program at Lowry Park, even as five other Tampa cultural institutions seek another $90 million from the county for projects of their own.<\/p>\n
The proposed agreement would pair each county dollar with a ZooTampa dollar through 2041, putting money toward new animal habitats, a family coaster, aging infrastructure and two major phases of a South America expansion. ZooTampa would match the county\u2019s $75 million through an annual endowment gift, operating surpluses and future fundraising.<\/p>\n
Wednesday\u2019s vote comes five months after commissioners voted 6-0 to begin negotiations with ZooTampa and told county staff to pursue a dollar-for-dollar match. The Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Florida Aquarium, Tampa Bay History Center, Glazer Children\u2019s Museum and Tampa Theatre have since asked Hillsborough for a combined $90 million, bringing the total sought by the six institutions to $165 million.<\/p>\n
The Straz Center wants $40 million over eight years to replace electrical and life-safety systems, upgrade HVAC equipment, harden the performing-arts complex against hurricanes and improve accessibility and public spaces. The Florida Aquarium is seeking $30 million over 10 years, including $16 million to close the remaining gap in its Sea Change expansion, along with money to restore its dome and wetlands exhibit and refurbish the shark habitat.<\/p>\n
The Tampa Bay History Center wants $10 million for a new Water Street entrance and portico, changes to the Lykes Atrium and museum store and upgrades to outdoor areas, security and building systems. Glazer Children\u2019s Museum is seeking $8 million over three years for renovations, accessibility and new or upgraded visitor experiences, while Tampa Theatre wants $2 million to restore the Duncan Auditorium, modernize plumbing and HVAC and add a two-story wing along Florida Avenue.<\/p>\n
The $86 million, two-phase South America redevelopment would take more than half of ZooTampa\u2019s $150 million program, followed by $20 million for Asia, $6 million for an elephant and mixed-species project and $5 million for an Australia family coaster. Another $30 million would cover nuts-and-bolts capital work such as roofs, HVAC, fencing, lighting, restrooms and animal-support buildings, with another $3 million set aside for planning and design.<\/p>\n
The work would unfold at ZooTampa, the 68-acre Lowry Park attraction that draws about 1.2 million visitors a year and says roughly half come from outside the area. The zoo, which has occupied the western side of Lowry Park since 1957, is also pursuing a lease for another 13 acres from the City of Tampa, although county documents do not assign specific projects in the $150 million program to that additional land.<\/p>\n
If commissioners approve the agreement, Hillsborough would not hand ZooTampa $75 million upfront. County money would be released as eligible work moves forward and remain subject to annual funding, while commissioners could allow as much as $10 million in an individual year without raising the overall $75 million cap.<\/p>\n
County staff identified the renewed half-cent Community Investment Tax, Hillsborough\u2019s long-term capital sales tax, as the most viable source for the county\u2019s share. The tax takes effect Dec. 1, and its 2024 spending framework put $545 million of an estimated $597 million in planned public-facilities money under the broader community-facilities category.<\/p>\n
The other five requests are not part of Wednesday\u2019s ZooTampa vote, and Hillsborough has not committed money to them. County staff said the institutions have not gone through a standardized evaluation process, leaving their combined $90 million in requests unresolved.<\/p>\n
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