GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Kent County commissioners on Thursday greenlit the new 10-year master plan for John Ball Zoo.

The plan passed 16-3, with one person abstaining. The approved document includes revisions from its original form, with additional language that protects green space and trees.

“I’m really excited about the future and the ability to restore that green space and to be able to also meet the needs of our zoo goers from all across the county,” said Peter D’Arienzo the CEO of John Ball Zoo.

The revised version of the original plan requires a green space zone that is at least 375 feet wide near Valley Avenue. It also now includes language to preserve large trees when possible.

Those changes were welcomed by many of the park’s neighbors, though they didn’t think the protections went far enough. A number of people who addressed the Board of Commissioners before its vote expressed concern about the zoo’s plans for parking and were worried about green space being eliminated.

“This master plan is a real loss for our community,” said Cindy DeBoer, who lives across the street. “Just in the last 24 hours certain commissioners made concessions that improved the package that was voted on today but … it’s not at all what was promised to us.”

The plan details new exhibits the zoo hopes to add, including proposals to accommodate giraffes as part of an expansion of the Africa section, revive a sea lion habitat and add an ambitious South American forest habitat with capybaras, jaguars, free-flying birds and a 30-foot waterfall. The zoo also wants to add an event center that can hold parties of 400 so it can host more weddings, conferences and other special events.

A majority of the funding for the improvements will come through the zoo’s fundraising campaigns. Peter D’Arienzo, the zoo’s CEO, previously told News 8 it has raised roughly $50 million in the past 10 years. Other monetary contributions are set to come through funds sent by the city, county and state, as well as about $14 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding.

With the plan approved, work on the Africa exhibit and a giraffe feeding zone could begin by the end of the year.

Some residents say they did not have enough time to review the proposal and wanted to be included more directly in the process.

“It’s a very dense housing area with a lot of rental properties and it’s the only green space and it’s used every day. I live right across the street, I see how it’s used every day by groups. There’s Little League practices, there’s kids playing soccer every day, and that’s not gonna be possible as they expand their parking lot,” DeBoer said.

Other neighbors say the Grand Rapids City Commission wanted a neighborhood park to remain when the land was transferred to the county for the construction of the zoo.

“John Ball donated the original 40 acres to be enjoyed for publicly-accessible use by the community and that has been gradually taken away over many years,” said Matteah Spencer Reppart, who lives in the neighborhood and attended the meeting.

—News 8’s Elena Cousino contributed to this report.