About
Your new pathway to the natural world is here! The Treetop Trail is open for you to explore and enjoy. The world’s longest elevated pedestrian loop welcomed more than 40,000 guests in its first week.
Gov. Tim Walz proclaimed opening day as Minnesota Zoo Treetop Trail Day, citing how the trail will strengthen connections between people, nature, and animals in an accessible and engaging manner. When she joined for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan called the trail “a treasure and a true gift to Minnesotans.” The Star Tribune Editorial Board said the trail is a “stroke of recycling ingenuity” that offers a “year-round, accessible platform for visiting some of the most beautiful areas of the zoo.”
The Treetop Trail is made possible by the support of Minnesotans, generous individuals, and partners. Explore more about this innovative and groundbreaking project and how the Zoo and its partners have brought it to life.
Zoo and Foundation leadership
John Frawley
President
Jamie Flaws
Project Manager
Thomas Root
Project Manager
Amy Cowen
Deputy Director
Anne Weber-Smith
Director of Major Gifts
Jessica Madole
Director of Guest Experience
Carol Strecker
Director of Education, Events, and Experiences
Beth Comeaux
Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations
Missy McGrath
Director of Board and Legislative Relations
Geoff Hall
Chief Animal Care, Health, Conservation, and Behavior Officer
Otha T. Tillery
Director, Campus Planning and Management
Marie Tuhy
Director of Annual Giving
Nicole McEathron
Executive Assistant
Ryan Sweeney
Director of Operations
Kurt Heizmann
Director of Animal Care
Project Partners
The Minnesota Zoo searched extensively to ensure that its team of partners would represent the brightest and most innovative in the industry. We are proud to bring this project to fruition in collaboration with these talented organizations and individuals.
Step Into Nature Campaign Leadership
Co-Chairs:
Ken Cutler, Zoo Board
Suzanne Gappa, Foundation Board
Honorary Chairs:
Peter Maritz, Community Volunteer & Charlene Jundt, Foundation Board
Carmen Campbell, Community Volunteer & Jim Campbell, Honorary Trustee
Ned Dayton, Honorary Trustee & SherryAnn Dayton, Community Volunteer
Jeannine Rivet and Warren Herreid, Community Volunteers
Members:
Ellie Crosby, Foundation Board
Doug Fulton, Zoo Foundation Board
John Geisler, Foundation Board
Julie Kunkel, Community Volunteer
Quannah Parker-McGowan, Zoo Board
Elizabeth Rominski, Community Partner
Ex Officio
Joe Ravens, Chair, Foundation Board
John Frawley, Director/President, Minnesota Zoo and President, Minnesota Zoo Foundation
History
Press
7/30/2023 – Bring Me The News – Gallery: The Minnesota Zoo’s Treetop Trail is now open
7/29/2023 – KARE11 – Treetop Trail opens at the Minnesota Zoo
7/28/2023 – WCCO – Treetop Trail opens at Minnesota Zoo
7/28/2023 – Dakota County Tribune – Minnesota Zoo’s Treetop Trail opens to the public
7/28/2023 – KSTP – Treetop Trail opens at Minnesota Zoo
7/27/2023 – MPR – Atop former monorail track, Minnesota Zoo’s new Treetop Trail set to open
7/24/2023 – Mpls. St. Paul Magazine – Minnesota Zoo opens Treetop Trail
7/23/2023 – Star Tribune – Minnesota Zoo’s new Treetop Trail lets visitors experience things from new heights
4/19/2023 – Pioneer Press – Minnesota Zoo sets opening date for new Treetop Trail
4/19/2023 – WCCO – Minnesota Zoo’s new, elevated Treetop Trail opens in July
4/19/2023 – KARE11 – Minnesota Zoo’s old monorail will open July 28 at Treetop Trail
4/19/2023 – BringMeTheNews – Minnesota Zoo to open world’s longest elevated pedestrian loop in July
10/13/2022 – MSP Business Journal – Minnesota Zoo places first section of Treetop Trail, monorail’s replacement
10/13/2022 – FOX9 – Minnesota Zoo installs first segment of new Treetop Trail
4/30/2022 – Minnesota Monthly – Minnesota Zoo to Repurpose Monorail Into Elevated Pedestrian Trail
7/14/2022 – American Society of Civil Engineers – Minnesota Zoo’s retro monorail gets a futuristic revamp
6/16/2022 – Thrifty Minnesota – Minnesota Zoo Treetop Trail – Coming Summer 2023!
5/12/2022 – The Architect’s Newspaper – The Minnesota Zoo kicks off transformation of defunct monorail track into elevated pedestrian loop
5/4/2022 – Archinect – Monorail track converted into elevated treetop trail by Minnesota Zoo and Snow Kreilich Architects
1/7/2020 – Star Tribune – Minnesota Zoo planning new ways to connect visitors to nature.
7/23/2019 – MPR – How the Minnesota Zoo hopes to become more than just a zoo.
2/10/2018 – Star Tribune – Aging Minnesota Zoo needs repairs, seeks nearly $35 million from state.
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