Michigan zoo envisions 2031 opening for massive waterfront aquarium

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — John Ball Zoo is pushing forward with plans to build a large-scale aquarium in Kent County, and a waterfront site for the estimated $370 million project could be announced in the coming months.

“We are doing some exploratory work, but we’re not quite ready to commit to and announce a specific site,” said Peter D’Arienzo, CEO of John Ball Zoo. “It’s definitely in Kent County and definitely on a body of water.”