Animal Hospital Breaks Ground At Elmwood Park Zoo

NORRISTOWN, PA — Elmwood Park Zoo officially broke ground on its new state of the art veterinary hospital last week, marking the next stage in its ongoing reimagination and expansion.

The work is anticipated to be completed by the spring of 2024, in time for the celebration activities surrounding the zoo's 100th birthday. The new welcome center is slated to be completed by then, too.

The grand opening was attended by numerous state, county, and local officials and dignitaries.

"It is the type of development that makes our community a wonderful place to raise a family, live and work," State Rep. Gregory Scott said in a statement.

The Frank and Paige Engro Veterinary Hospital and Welcome Center will be named for longtime local entrepreneurs and philanthropists. Frank Engro passed away in 2022.

Preliminary demoltion of certain parts of the zoo near the entrance began in January, and led to a three-month closure of the zoo. The zoo is now re-opened with a special alternative entrance that will be in place until the welcome center and hospital are ready for the public.

Elmwood received the anonymous $30 million anonymous donation for the expansion it labeled "landmark" in late October.

The hospital will feature several exam rooms, treatment centers, quarantine facilities, recovery wards, giant glass viewing bays for guests to see the hospital's daily work, and much more.

"This donation comes at a crucial moment for the zoo," Al Zone, Elmwood's executive director and CEO, said in a statement. "On the verge of our 100th anniversary, this gift allows us to extend our exceptional veterinary care to an increasing number of species, and it provides us with a means to build an entrance that can accommodate the large number of guests who visit us each year."

The viewing bays and public access to the zoo will provide visitors with an in-depth look at medical procedures, as well as diet preparations and other intricacies of care. The hospital will be over 17,000 square feet, making it "one of the largest and most advanced exotic animal care facilities" in America, the zoo said.

The welcome center, which will be attached to the hospital, will feature ticket windows, a gift shop, educational displays, offices, and meeting spaces.

The donor was identified by the zoo only as a local entrepreneur with "strong ties" to Norristown.

“It (the donation) was made as an effort for other Montgomery County philanthropists to follow (my) lead and get involved," he said, noting that he wanted to support the zoo's larger $150 million master plan to renovate the grounds through a series of projects. Zone further described the hospital as the most important part of that master plan.