With kids comprising 33% of Zoo visitors, the need for a unique children’s area was necessary and in 2000, planning meetings began with staff from all participating Zoo areas. The decision was to have a waterplay area, a theatre, and a children’s zoo with the idea that families would be able to meet up and cool off at the waterplay area before visiting the children’s zoo or attending an animal demonstration or children’s entertainment at the new amphitheatre. All FREE with general admission!

Through Zellers "Friends of the Family Fund", money was raised for this three-part project. Zellers is the mass merchandise division of the Hudson’s Bay Company, Canada’s largest department store retailer and oldest corporation. "They liked the fact that we have the same target audience – moms and kids", commented Peggy Hornell, Director of the Toronto Zoo Foundation. In March of 2002, the first phase of construction began.