PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. – The next big attraction at Port Canaveral isn’t ready for construction just yet.
In 2021, the port approved plans by the Brevard Zoo to build a 14-acre aquarium and conservation campus on the Banana River.
Last December, the zoo said the $100 million project was 70% funded and hoped to start construction in 2024.
Then on Thursday, the zoo’s executive director Keith Winsten updated the Indian River Lagoon Coalition that the project was still shy of being fully-funded.
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Winsten said funding stands at 85%.
Indian Rive Lagoon Coalition President Craig Wallace told News 6 reporter James Sparvero he’s confident the zoo will get all the donations it needs.
The zoo said half of its donations have come from private donors like the Ron Jon Surf Shop which gave $2 million.
“It’s part of the community, and the community responds to that by donating,” said Wallace. “So yes, there’s no question in my mind.”
The aquarium will include a manatee healing center and a seagrass nursery and the zoo has said a dollar from every ticket will go toward improving water quality.
”Anything we can do to get some extra bucks to clean up this waterway is good,” Wallace said.
Wallace also talked more about the informational importance of the aquarium.
”It’s gonna be an education center for people to come and just understand better about what’s going on with the lagoon because it’s really important for people to be involved in this,” Wallace said. “It’s not just somebody else doing something. It’s what you can do to help the lagoon.”
Stick with News 6 and ClickOrlando.com for updates when the zoo is ready to start construction.