Hillsborough County commissioners voted 4-3 to approve a $75 million funding package for ZooTampa, setting up a 15-year, $150 million transformation of the Lowry Park attraction that includes a brand-new South America section built on land the public has never been allowed to see. The money comes from the county's Community Investment Tax, and ZooTampa is on the hook to match it dollar for dollar.
According to Bay News 9, the proposal narrowly passed, and the combined $150 million from the county and the zoo will support the 15-year project. The county's share will come in installments of up to $5 million annually through 2041, as reported by Florida Politics, with the zoo providing an equal match. Tampa Bay 28 reports ZooTampa plans to match the county's investment through its own revenue and private donors.
Where the Money Is Coming From
The county's contribution is generated through Community Investment Tax funds, a half-cent sales tax, according to Fox 13 News. That tax was renewed by voters in 2024, per the station's report. The fund was established to pay for capital improvement projects and capital equipment across Hillsborough County and the cities of Plant City, Tampa and Temple Terrace, according to Hillsborough County.
Not everyone on the board signed off. Commissioners Ken Hagan, Harry Cohen and Gwen Myers voted against the agreement, Tampa Bay 28 reports. Hagan said he supported ZooTampa but could not approve the full $75 million because only $50 million had been designated from the CIT for all cultural institutions combined, the outlet reports, and he argued a more modest allocation for ZooTampa would have allowed the county to partner with other cultural groups as well.
A Hidden 14 Acres Near Lowry Park
The project's centerpiece is a planned South America expansion that would push the zoo across North Boulevard onto roughly 14 acres the public currently cannot access, Bay News 9 reports. That land is currently used as a City of Tampa maintenance lot, the station notes, and ZooTampa describes it as a parcel of non-public land near the Hillsborough River that currently houses a maintenance facility, according to ZooTampa.
If built, the South America section could eventually include animal habitats, dining and retail space, per the same Bay News 9 account. ZooTampa has said the green space surrounding the existing Lowry Park building will remain untouched, as reported by Fox 13 News. The concept has drawn comparisons to the Straz Center's ongoing expansion along Tampa's Riverwalk, Bay News 9 notes.
Habitat Upgrades Start With Tigers
Beyond the river-crossing expansion, ZooTampa's capital plan covers general improvements and planning, an Australia family ride, upgrades to the zoo's Asia area, and elephant and mixed-species habitats, along with two phases of the South America build-out, Florida Politics reports. Tampa Bay 28 reports the CIT funding will go toward upgrading the zoo's oldest sections first, with work beginning in the Asia section and a focus on the tiger habitat. The project also includes a family ride and restaurant, according to the outlet.
ZooTampa's updated 15-year plan identifies 83 smaller and mid-range projects that could draw funding over time, per Florida Politics. The zoo already attracts more than 1.2 million visitors annually, according to the Business Observer, which also reports that ZooTampa raised its projected investment from roughly $125 million to $150 million while shortening its timeline from about 20 years to 15.
A Contract Still Being Finalized
Accounts of exactly what commissioners approved differ. Bay News 9 reported that commissioners approved a $75 million funding package outright, while WFTV reported that the board approved only a motion to proceed with finalizing the contract, and that the money has not been described by ZooTampa as finally awarded or paid. Hillsborough County's own meeting recap states that the board approved amending the previously approved infrastructure-project list to add ZooTampa funding, according to the county.
The Business Observer reports ZooTampa separately completed a $33 million private fundraising effort for Florida Waters and other conservation projects, distinct from the CIT-backed capital plan. Whatever the precise procedural status of Wednesday's vote, the direction is clear: Tampa's zoo is headed for its biggest build-out in years, funded in large part by a sales tax most shoppers in Hillsborough County are already paying.
