The Oakland Zoo celebrated the grand opening of the California Trail today: a result of vision, perseverance and a community pulling together to make the $85M project a reality. From inception to completion, the project was more than two decades in the making and positions the Oakland Zoo as a leader in conservation education and stewardship of our state’s natural history. Mayor Libby Schaaf and Dr. Joel Parrott both spoke at the ceremony and reminded us that good things ARE happening in the world. Overaa broke ground on the project almost three years ago and it more than doubles the Zoo’s current size from 45 acres to 100 acres. The project consists of 15 new structures that introduce new native California animal species including American bison, black bears, grizzly bears, brown bears, mountain lions, jaguars, California condors, gray wolves, and bald eagles. The project also includes a state-of-the-art cafe with glass panels featuring 360 views of the Bay Area, an interpretive overlook, a California Interpretive Center, a camping area with platform tents for overnight experiences, and a children’s play and learn area.