MASTER PLAN
Building a world-class Zoo doesn't happen without a lot of planning. Since the Zoo began making major renovations in the late 1980s, it has used a master plan to guide the way.Location Overview
Created in April 1906, the Memphis Zoo has been a major tenant of Overton Park for more than 100 years. The city-owned land currently designated to the Zoo was defined by the Overton Park master plan in 1988. The Zoo is set on 76 acres, of which approximately 55 acres are developed. To learn more about the Zoo,
click here.
Developing a Plan
The first Zoo master plan was developed in the early 1980s by Torre Design Consortium, Ltd. (TDC), an architectural design firm that specializes in zoological planning. Years of research were used to refine the master plan that the Zoo adopted in 1986. Since that date, the Zoo has worked with TDC to revise the plan according to Zoo's animal needs and strategic goals. On average, the Zoo revises its master plan about every 10 years. The latest Zoo master plan was created in 2001.
In the last 20 years, the Zoo has completed more than $80 million in renovations and new construction. None of which would be possible without the financial assistance and civic support of local private citizens, corporate sponsors and legislators.
new master plan progress
The Zoo is nearing the end of the current master plan and will be working soon to create a new 10-year master plan. Please check back soon to read details about how the process begins.
View the 2001 Zoo Master Plan
View the map with locations of future projects highlighted.