Legacy Projects
About the Legacy Amendment
Legacy Projects are an important part of future planning at the Lake Superior Zoo. In 2008, the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, called the “Legacy Amendment,” was approved by Minnesota voters to: protect drinking water sources; to protect, enhance, and restore wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat; to preserve arts and cultural heritage; to support parks and trails; and to protect, enhance, and restore lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater.
Funds from the Legacy Amendment have supported future planning, exhibit restoration, education programming, and historic preservation.
About the Legacy Amendment
The Legacy Amendment increased the state sales tax by three-eighths of one percent from July 1, 2009 through 2034. This sales tax revenue is distributed into the Legacy Amendment’s four funds as follows: 19.75 percent to the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, 33 percent to the Clean Water Fund, 33 percent to the Outdoor Heritage Fund, and 14.25 percent to the Parks and Trails Fund. The Lake Superior Zoological Society (Lake Superior Zoo) has received funding for several programs and projects from the Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
Projects
2021-2022
Bald Eagle Exhibit Renovation
The Lake Superior Zoo contracted with Keller Fencing to repair the existing wolf habitat next to the new brown bear exhibit located on the West side of Kingsbury Creek. Once the exhibit was complete, three gray wolves joined the Zoo Family: Sierra, Shasta, and Tehama. The exhibit provides a close-up connection with wolves and brings awareness to the conservation issues the gray wolf faces, as well as provide an opportunity to understand how the wolf fits within our various regions.
You can read the report here: Legacy Grant – FY21 Annual Report
2020-2021
North American Gray Wolf Exhibit Renovation
The Lake Superior Zoo contracted with Keller Fencing to repair the existing wolf habitat next to the new brown bear exhibit located on the West side of Kingsbury Creek. Once the exhibit was complete, three gray wolves joined the Zoo Family: Sierra, Shasta, and Tehama. The exhibit provides a close-up connection with wolves and brings awareness to the conservation issues the gray wolf faces, as well as provide an opportunity to understand how the wolf fits within our various regions.
You can read the report here: Legacy Grant – FY20 Annual Report
2018-2019
Amphibians of Minnesota
Minnesota is home to nineteen species of amphibians including frogs, toads, and salamanders. This exhibit is located across two buildings (Zoo Central and Primate Conservation Center) and has fifteen spaces for animals. The Amphibians of Minnesota exhibit educates our visitors about what an amphibian is, their life cycles, and the differences between the species of frogs and salamanders.
2017-2018
Butterfly House
The Lake Superior Zoo contracted with Spineless Wonders to construct a seasonal exhibit, located near the banks of Kingsbury Creek within the zoo’s perimeter. Once constructed, the exhibit space was populated with native wildflowers and trees to provide nutrients for the butterflies. The exhibit not only showcased butterflies, but provided the educational experience of a butterfly’s life cycle displaying their larvae and chrysalis stages, and interpreting their value as pollinators and the important role they play in the earth’s ecosystem.
You can read the report here: Legacy Grant – FY18 Annual Report
