Central Park Children's Zoo
The Tisch Children’s Zoo in Central Park was conceived and designed by QRP as a place where very young children would have their first encounter with animals. The naturalistic setting respects animals as well as the zoo’s location in this landmark park. The design process was characterized by close collaboration with the client, the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Visitors pass through the original gates by sculptor Paul Manship, preserved from the 1960 children’s zoo, and up a fully accessible ramp that mediates between the zoo and the park landscape. From the top of the ramp visitors enter a large aviary through fantastically scaled “blasted oaks”. Once inside the aviary – enclosed by nearly invisible netting – children walk among birds flying freely. A stream and pool, constructed around existing trees and rock outcrops, is home to sacred ibis, a variety of wildfowl, turtles and fish.
Outside the aviary children can encounter sheep, goats, a Dexter cow and a pot-bellied pig. Throughout the zoo, there are interactive features such as turtle shells to climb in, rabbit ears to listen through, lily pads to jump on and a spider web to climb on, which teach children about the animals’ lives while they play.
Location
Central Park, Manhattan, NY
Client
Wildlfe Conservation Society
Role
Landscape Architect
Team
Robert Cabrera Architect
