The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is looking to the state of Ohio to help bankroll its next big water project, asking for $2.5 million toward a new aquatic conservation and acclimation center. The support building, pegged at about $11.7 million total, is planned for the east side of the zoo near the Lakeside Pavilion and would focus on behind-the-scenes conservation and animal-acclimation work, with only limited public access. Zoo officials say the center could be up and running as soon as 2029 if the money and approvals line up. A separate freestanding aquarium could follow later.
Zoo’s $2.5 Million Request Joins Crowded Capital-Budget Wish List
According to The Columbus Dispatch, the zoo’s $2.5 million ask is one of many local projects vying for attention in Ohio’s 2026 capital budget, so there is no guarantee it makes the final cut. The Dispatch reports the proposal carries an $11.7 million price tag, targets a site beside the Lakeside Pavilion on the zoo’s east side, and could open as early as 2029. Lawmakers will sift through the full slate of requests during the spring budget process, and any funding for the zoo would still need signoff from the General Assembly and the governor.
How The Zoo Plans To Cover The Rest Of The Tab
“The remainder of the project cost would be funded by the zoo's capital budget, donations, corporate partnerships and other funding sources,” Gomez Racey told The Columbus Dispatch. The Dispatch also notes that specific design details are still in flux, including how large any future freestanding aquarium might be. The outlet reports the zoo has successfully landed state dollars before, including roughly $1.4 million for a front-entry guest security system and about $1 million for upgrades to its North America exhibit, a track record that will not hurt as it makes its latest pitch.
Building On Existing Aquatic Conservation Work
The new project would expand on aquatic-conservation work already happening at the zoo, most notably at the Watters Aquatic Conservation Center. The facility, which the zoo describes as a freshwater mussel propagation, research and acclimation center, has teamed up with Ohio State University and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources on techniques and training that could be scaled up with a larger acclimation building. As outlined on the Columbus Zoo website, conservation advocates say a purpose-built expansion could boost species-restoration programs while giving visitors a better peek at the zoo’s usually hidden conservation work.
What Happens Next At The Statehouse
The request now heads into Ohio’s capital-appropriations process, where legislators sort through dozens of hometown projects and decide which ones actually get funded. The as-introduced capital bill is packed with local line items, and earlier drafts have listed multiple Columbus Zoo projects, but being mentioned in a draft is a far cry from a guaranteed payday; see SB 266 (As introduced) from the Ohio Legislature. Zoo leaders say they will keep chasing other funding and will adjust the project’s scale to match whatever dollars they ultimately secure if state support does not come through.
