28 Apr Enclosures Are Evolving: How Roosevelt Park Zoo Is Attempting to Eliminate Bars
For much of the 20th century, zoo design was guided by a simple principle: keep visitors safe and animals contained. The result? Concrete floors, iron bars, and heavy steel structures that prioritized security over aesthetics—and often over animal welfare.
Today, that philosophy is changing. At the Roosevelt Park Zoo, a quiet but powerful transformation is underway—one that reflects a broader evolution in zoological standards and a commitment to creating habitats that are safer, more humane, and more immersive than ever before.
From Iron Bars to Immersive Habitats
Historically, zoos across the country relied on iron-bar enclosures and fortress-like barns. These exhibits were designed to make us—the guests—comfortable with the idea of animals in captivity. Safety came first. Aesthetics and natural behavior came second.That legacy is still visible in some of the zoo’s oldest infrastructure. The bear exhibit, built in the 1960s and currently home to Goldie, Judy, and Sandy, reflects the design standards of its time—durable, secure, but unmistakably industrial.
By the late 1980s and 1990s, zoos began shifting to smaller-gauge iron “corn crib” enclosures, modeled after agricultural storage systems used to dry and store corn. These circular mesh structures were seen as a step forward: lighter, more open, and cost-effective. For years, they represented progress. But progress doesn’t stand still. “Standards and zoo design have evolved together,” says Dr. Logan Wood, Zoo Director. “Zoos have developed from concrete boxes with steel bars to natural-looking, immersive habitat environments.”
The Rise of Modern Materials
Today’s zoo habitats are designed with a very different goal: to give animals optimum space, guests optimum viewing, and both a sense of connection—while keeping everyone safe. Modern materials make that possible. Woven Kevlar mesh netting, for example, can disappear from a distance while remaining as strong as traditional steel bars. Natural landscaping and strategic sightlines allow animals to move more freely while giving guests the feeling of stepping into the animals’ world—not peering into a cage.
Over the past several years, Roosevelt Park Zoo has set the standard for this modern approach with the installation of its state-of-the-art big cat exhibits. These habitats reflect the new philosophy of zoo design: immersive, spacious, enriching, and visually seamless.
Animal welfare now goes hand in hand with visitor experience and safety—not one at the expense of the other.
Holding to the Gold Standard
For more than 40 years, Roosevelt Park Zoo has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), most recently receiving full accreditation this past September. The AZA is widely recognized as the gold standard for zoos and aquariums worldwide. Its accreditation process evaluates everything from animal welfare and veterinary care to safety, conservation efforts, and guest experience.
During the zoo’s 2019 accreditation cycle, concerns were raised about the aging corn crib-style exhibits. Across the zoological community, these older enclosures are increasingly seen as outdated standards that must be addressed. These exhibits were once again brought to the forefront in the recent 2025 inspection as well. Faced with that reality, zoo leadership made a difficult but necessary decision: remove the corn crib habitats from the zoo’s footprint.
This choice did not come lightly. With roughly half of the zoo’s original grounds remaining, eliminating even a single exhibit can impact guest flow and experience. But leadership recognized that upholding AZA standards—and their own internal standards—means continually reassessing and improving. Providing the best possible welfare for the animals in our care must always come first.
Making Space for the Future
Removing the former lemur corn crib habitats opens the door to new possibilities. In their place, the zoo will introduce expanded guest areas and a dedicated meet-and-greet space where visitors can get up close with beloved animal ambassadors during the spring and summer season.
These experiences foster connection, inspire conservation awareness, and create lasting memories—all while maintaining the highest safety standards.
This evolution isn’t just about removing bars. It’s about reimagining what a zoo can be.
Addressing the Elephant in the Room: The Bear Exhibit
No conversation about exhibit evolution would be complete without acknowledging the zoo’s bear habitat. The current exhibit, a product of 1960s design standards, stands in contrast to the immersive environments now considered best practice. Zoo leadership and Minot Parks staff are actively in the research and brainstorming phase of developing and designing a larger, more modern bear exhibit that will be relocated as part of a future zoo expansion—pending the securement of funding.
The goal is clear: create a space that offers more room for natural behaviors, enhanced enrichment opportunities, up close encounters for guests, and the highest level of safety.
A Commitment to Continuous Improvement
Zoo design is not static. It evolves alongside our understanding of animal behavior, welfare science, materials engineering, and visitor engagement.
At Roosevelt Park Zoo, that evolution is visible in every decision—from investing in state-of-the-art big cat habitats to removing outdated structures and planning for future expansion.
Ultimately, what zoo designers, keepers, and management strive to achieve is a careful balance:
• Optimum space for the animals
• Optimum viewing for the guests
• Meaningful interaction
• Uncompromising safety
Eliminating bars is not just a design choice. It’s a philosophical one. It reflects a commitment to bettering the lives of the animals in our charge while enhancing the experience of every visitor who walks through the gates. And as standards continue to evolve, so too will the spaces we create—spaces that inspire, educate, and connect us more deeply to the natural world.