Work set to begin on tropics exhibit at Seneca Park Zoo after years of debate

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — After years of debate over design plans and costs, crews will finally break ground on Tuesday on the new tropics exhibit at Seneca Park Zoo. Monroe County Executive Adam Bello and the Seneca Park Zoo Society are holding a groundbreaking ceremony at 11 a.m. It comes two weeks after the Monroe County Legislature approved a request to increase the budget for the project by $14 million, in a 22-4 vote. That brings the total estimated project cost to nearly $117 million. The project involves building a new complex for animals from tropical habitats, such as orangutans and lemurs, and renovating the entrance. The legislature first approved funding for the expansion plan in 2022. However, as News10NBC has covered, leaders had to redesign the plan from what was originally proposed. That’s because only one contractor was interested in building the tropics complex, and its bid was over $50 million higher than what the county was prepared to pay. Last year, Monroe Count