El Paso Zoo is converting an underused Chihuahuan Desert exhibit into a behind-the-scenes breeding center for smaller endangered species; construction begins June 1. The space won’t be open for tours.

City officials say a peer‑mentor program, staff coaching and pavilion repairs are the backbone of a plan to restore the El Paso Zoo’s national accreditation. The city is also moving quickly on a director search and construction timeline.

Texas Parks and Wildlife added 1,054 acres to Franklin Mountains State Park, extending protection to Martin Luther King Boulevard and securing trailhead access.