May 16, 2007 8:18 pm US/Eastern
Zoo's Water's Edge Exhibit To Open Thursday
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is set to officially debut its new Water's Edge exhibit tomorrow.
The $14 million exhibit boasts two underwater tunnels and a huge convex underwater window.
The 30-foot tunnel provides a view of polar bears, sea otters and eventually sea lions and walruses.
Visitors are sure to be as stunned as dignitaries were at today's sneak peek.
"It's hard to believe that just 12 years ago, all of these assets were in trouble" said Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato. "They were being proposed to close because the city was out of the money in the mid-90s. Then we spun them off and have a public/private partnership. This place has never looked so good."
Also at the Water's Edge trail is Pier Town, a replica of a coastal fishing village where man meets nature.
It includes a cannery, seafood market, alternative energy company and a town hall.
Stay with KDKA for a behind-the-scenes tour of the exhibit.
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