The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, the state’s most visited attraction and a leader in animal welfare, conservation, and research, has announced its new masterplan. This plan will direct the Zoo’s expansion for the ensuing ten years and beyond.

SHR Studios, a zoo and aquarium planning and design firm based in Bainbridge Island, Washington, was hired by the OKC Zoo to develop a comprehensive plan that embodies the organisation’s objective of fostering human-wildlife connections via innovative, sustainable, and engaging advancements.

One of the main features of the new master plan is a world-class reptile and amphibian preserve, which can house species from all over the world both indoors and outdoors. Other highlights include enhancing visitor accessibility and experiences by reimagining the Zoo’s heart as a central gathering place and renovating some of the most well-liked habitats, like Oklahoma Trails, Great EscApe, and the Children’s Zoo.

An ambitious ten-year plan

“With the recent opening of Expedition Africa, the arrival of five lion cubs, and our centennial celebration at Lincoln Park, I’m excited to keep this momentum going with the announcement of our new master plan,” says Dr Dwight Lawson, OKC Zoo’s executive director and CEO.

“This 10-year plan, informing Zoo construction from 2024 to 2034, is perhaps the most ambitious in the Zoo’s 122-year history. The plan outlines multiple construction projects that will modernize some of the Zoo’s oldest structures into immersive habitats that provide superior animal care and guest experiences.”

According to a breakdown of the masterplan in The Oklahoman, it includes the addition of larger savannah habitats to the Africa Plateau, which houses the zoo’s hooved animals, including okapi, wildebeest, and zebra. New wild encounter spaces for okapi will also be added, as will vulture exhibits and gardens. Meanwhile, the zoo aims to move the Reptile Preserve closer to the zoo entrance and convert the current building into a guest lounge.

The trust also wants to improve traffic flow and provide shaded outdoor seating at the Heart of the Zoo and the new Redbud Cafe. To manage stormwater, the zoo will move the carousel and build a stream connected to the alligator habitat.

The organisation intends to build an underwater brown bear viewing area and new zoo walking pathways, however these are lower on the priority list. The plan mentions new overnight accommodations and an update to the children’s adventure area. The open-air zoo entrance area will also get an upgrade with a new arbour and shade structure.

Other elements of the plan include expanding the elephant habitat and adding to the primate habitat. The Feline Oasis will see the addition of bigger jaguar and tiger habitats, the renovation of seven small cat exhibits, and the creation of a big cat training wall.

The full masterplan presentation can be found here.

Extending and enhancing the facilities

The last masterplan for the zoo was put into effect in 2018 and successfully guided projects including Raptor Ridge, Wetlands Walkway, Predator Pass, Sanctuary Asia, and, most recently, Expedition Africa. As the plan is completed, the Zoo’s African penguins, harbor seals, and California sea lions will move into Shore to Sea, a brand-new marine mammal habitat. Opening in 2027, this expanded area will take up 3.5 acres in the eastern part of the park with a view of Zoo Lake.

The expected total investment for the Zoo’s 2024 masterplan ranges from $115 million to $230 million, giving it the freedom to pursue projects in part or in full, depending on requirements and resources. Masterplan projects will be financed through a combination of private fundraising, potential historic tax credits, and revenue from a special 1/8-of-a-cent sales tax that Oklahoma City voters authorised in 1990.

Elsewhere, the Memphis Zoo in Tennessee recently unveiled its plans for the first phase of a $250 million revitalisation project. The overall plan is divided into phases, with each of these addressing specific areas. The first phase involves transforming the zoo’s Africa exhibit.

In the UK, Chester Zoo has been given the go-ahead to build safari lodges overlooking giraffes on an African-style savannah.

H&E Equipment Services has announced the opening of a new branch in the US, adding to its footprint in South Carolina.

Located in the Myrtle Beach area, the branch offers a range of equipment and specialises in the rental of aerial lifts, earthmoving equipment, telescopic forklifts, compaction equipment and generators. 

The site, which includes a fully fenced yard area, offices and a repair shop, will offer equipment from a number of OEMs, including Bomag, Genie, Hamm, Sany and Kubota. 

Joe Pannunzio, branch manager, H&E, said, “H&E has extended its coverage along the South Carolina coast, from Georgetown up to the North Carolina state line, and then inland to I-95 from Dillon to Manning. We can easily reach all points in between with close proximity to state highways 501, 701, and 368 and to major roadways that branch off in all directions. 

“Our location strategically bridges the gap between our existing Charleston, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina, branches, so we are able to help both new and existing customers secure the right equipment for their projects.”

The opening also marks the continuation of its goal to open between 12 and 15 new sites in 2024. To date, the company has opened five new branches and completed two acquisitions in 2024. Since the second quarter of 2023 the company has opened 19 new branches across the US and acquired nine companies. 

Leadership Tennessee announced the participants in the 11th class of its yearly program, which brings together leaders from around the state to address concerns Tennessee faces.

Leadership Tennessee is a nonprofit organization dedicated to rallying leaders from throughout the state to address critical issues and in a constructive and nonpartisan way. The 2024-2025 Signature Program Class XI consists of 48 people from 14 different counties across Tennessee, each representing distinct organizations and professional experiences.

The cohort will spend 10 months traveling the state to study the challenges Tennessee faces and work together to identify the best solutions and opportunities to improve.

“We are proud to challenge our cohorts to think critically about advancing our state in a variety of areas,” Alfred Degrafinreid II, president and CEO of Leadership Tennessee, said in a news release. “This class in particular will experience the program at the height of this year’s election. This will no doubt lead to even deeper and more thoughtful dialogue as state and federal discourse will be spiking in this moment.”

Leadership Tennessee’s 2024-2025 Signature Program Class XI participants

The following are listed alphabetically by county.

Davidson County

• Jill Ayers, Judge, Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals
• Monty Burks, Deputy Director of Governors Faith Based and Community Initiative, Office of the Governor
• Clay Bright, CEO, Megasite Authority of West Tennessee
• Nikki Burdine, News Anchor, WKRN
• Brooxie Carlton, Assistant Commissioner, Community and Rural Development, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
• Joe Carrico, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Kate Chinn, Partner, MP&F
• Natalie Cooper, President and CEO, Wellpoint TN
• Steven Gentile, Executive Director, Tennessee Higher Education Commission
• Erin Hafkenschiel, President, ThinkTennessee
• Johari Matthews, Vice President and Executive Director, ONE Community and Titans Foundation, Tennessee Titans
• Bert McCarter, Attorney, McCarter East PLLC
• Martesha Johnson Moore, Chief Public Defender, Metropolitan Nashville Public Defender’s Office
• Karl Sprules, Chief Operating Officer, AllianceBernstein
• Carey Whitworth, Vice President of Government Relations and Advocacy, University of Tennessee System
• Russell Ziecker, Executive Vice President, Head of Global TV Music, LIONSGATE and STARZ

Gibson County

• Tina Prescott, Chief Operating Officer, West Tennessee Healthcare

Hamilton County

• Casey Dungan, President and CEO, BlueCare Tennessee
• Evann Freeman, Vice President, Government and Community Relations, EPB Chattanooga
• Ian Leavy, Assistant General Counsel, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
• Joe Riley, Founder/Owner, Patriot Family Homes and Quail Run Farm
• Mina Sartipi, Professor, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Knox County

• Ben Bentley, CEO, Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation
• Jan Brown, VP, Talent and Culture, Tennessee Valley Authority
• Clarice Phelps, Engineer, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Grant Rosenberg, Chief Operating Officer, City of Knoxville
• Tammy White, President/CEO, Leadership Knoxville

Madison County

• Monte Cooper, President and CEO, Jackson Energy Authority
• Carol Rothstein, President, Jackson State Community College

Montgomery County

• Lee Harrell, Chief of Staff, Montgomery County
• Kimberly Wiggins, County Trustee, Montgomery County Government

Roane County

• Bob Eby, Chairman, Tennessee State Board of Education

Robertson County

• Zane Seals, Chief Financial Officer, Division of TennCare

Rutherford County

• Dawn White, District 13 State Senator, Tennessee General Assembly

Shelby County

• Kemp Conrad, Principal, Cushman & Wakefield Commercial Advisors, LLC
• Michalyn Easter-Thomas, Memphis City Councilwoman, City of Memphis
• Michael Fulton, Director of Government Affairs and Business Diversity Development, Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority
• Tiffany Legington Graham, Chief Marketing and Development Officer, National Civil Rights Museum
• Phillip May, President (Memphis), Pinnacle Financial Partners
• Johnny Moore, Jr., Tennessee Regional President, Truist Financial
• Chandell Ryan, President and CEO, Downtown Memphis Commission
• Paul Young, Mayor, City of Memphis

Smith County

• Bryan Wright, Executive Vice President, Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation

Sullivan County

• Carla Karst, Principal and Founder, Landstar and Workforce Homes Foundation
• Frank Lett, President and Chief Tourism Officer, Visit Kingsport

Sumner County

• Chassen Haynes, Regional Manager, U.S. State and Local Government Affairs, Ford Motor Company

Williamson County

• Matt Largen, President and CEO, Williamson, Inc.
• Mia McNeil, State Director, AARP Tennessee