10 Apr ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCES OPENING OF UPDATED OUTBACK ADVENTURE EXHIBIT IN ESSEX COUNTY TURTLE BACK ZOO New Boardwalk Offers Enhanced Viewing Area and Access for Strollers
Published on April 10, 2025
West Orange, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. officially reopened the Outback Adventure in Essex County Turtle Back Zoo on Thursday, April 10th. The exhibit underwent a comprehensive makeover to improve pedestrian circulation between the Prehistoric Playground, Essex Farm, Aviary and Outback Adventure. The project is part of the County Executive’s ongoing initiative to provide the most up-to-date educational opportunities and visitor experiences at Turtle Back.
“We always are mindful of ways we can improve the experience of our visitors to Turtle Back Zoo. The new, wider boardwalk addresses circulation issues and enhances access to the Outback Adventure, playground, aviary and farm area while enhancing viewing areas to our wallabies and kangaroos,” DiVincenzo said.
“Joe and his team always do a fantastic job at Turtle Back Zoo. This week was extra special because this is our second event here after opening our new animal hospital two days ago,” Commissioner President Carlos Pomares said.
“We made these improvements to enhance guest access and provide an open, welcoming and easy to navigate exhibit. The more people who visit Turtle Back means we a greater audience we have to educate about conservation and the environment,” Turtle Back Zoo Director Jillian Fazio said.
“I want to thank Joe for the vision he has brought to Turtle Back Zoo. We want visitors to have an outstanding time when they visit the zoo but also recognize the work that is being done here helps impact biodiversity around the world,” Zoological Society of New Jersey Director Adam Kerins said.
The improvements included creating a wider boardwalk to connect the Outback Adventure with the adjacent Aviary, Essex Farm and Prehistoric Playground. The original walking areas were narrow and having visitors walk through the exhibit from both directions was difficult, especially when families had strollers or wheelchairs. The new boardwalk is wide enough for double strollers being pushed in opposite directions to pass by each other while enhancing access to the playground, farm area and aviary. A shade structure for the wallabies also was added to the exhibit. The Outback Adventure and Aviary originally opened in 2008.
French and Parrello engineers from Wall received a professional services contract for $144,000 to design the new boardwalk. AB Contracting from Wharton was awarded a publicly-bid contract for $1,345,974 to perform the construction work. The improvements were funded with grants from the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund and the American Rescue Plan. Work started in October 2024 and was completed in six months.
Turtle Back Zoo is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $19 for adults, $17 for senior citizens over 62 and children ages 2 to 12, and free for children under 2. For more information, visit www.essexcountynj.org/turtlebackzoo or call 973-731-5800.
Essex County Turtle Back Zoo has roared back to life from the verge of closure by a previous administration. An all-time attendance record of 979,056 was set in 2023 and the zoo has operated as a self-sustaining facility with revenue collected exceeding operating expenses. In addition, Turtle Back is accredited by American Humane and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a clear indication that an institution is committed to the highest standards in animal care, ethics, conservation and education. It also has been named the Best Zoo in New Jersey by NJ Monthly magazine four times and received a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor.com three times.
Revitalizing Essex County Turtle Back Zoo
Currently under construction are the new visitor pathways to the Outback Adventure and the repurposing of the Sea Lion Sound.
Since taking office in 2003, DiVincenzo has spearheaded over $100 million in upgrades to Essex County Turtle Back Zoo, which have included creating a new Island Giants Exhibit featuring alligators and Komodo dragons, Amazing Asia exhibit featuring Red Pandas and Clouded Leopards, updating the Turtle Back Junction Train Station to enhance public access; developing the African Adventure with four Masai giraffes, lions and hyenas, and South African Penguins; the Drill Family Flamingo Exhibit; Leopard Exhibit; a new Educational Building; the Carousel with 33 figures of endangered animals; the Sea Lion Sound Exhibit with sea lions, sharks and sting rays; the Big Cat Country Exhibit with jaguars and cougars; Tam-ring Gibbons Reserve with white cheeked gibbons apes, Reeves muntjac and white naped cranes; Australian Exhibit that features kangaroos, wallabies, emus and over 500 birds in the Aviary; Reptile and Education Center, open air dining pavilion and playground, Penguin Exhibit, Otter Exhibit, Wolf Exhibit, North American Animal Exhibit, Black Bear Exhibit, Animal Hospital, Essex Farm Petting Zoo and South American Animal Exhibit; renovating the Food Pavilion for year-round use and making upgrades to the entrance as well as fencing and infrastructure to meet AZA requirements. Funding has been provided through Green Acres grants, existing capital improvement bonds, or donations from the Zoological Society, Essex County Parks Foundation, corporations or private foundations. Corporations that have provided support include Investors Bank, Prudential Financial, Inc., PNC Bank, PSE&G, Verizon, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Coca Cola, Capital One Bank, TD Bank, Aramark, Covanta Energy, Matrix Development Group, the family of Ronald Mount and OxyMagic carpet cleaning.
The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system established in the United States. The Park System consists of more than 6,000 acres and has 23 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, Treetop Adventure Course, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, two miniature golf courses, six off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens. Turtle Back Zoo is located in Essex County’s South Mountain Reservation and was opened to the public in 1963.