A Long, Successful Partnership
The idea for a world-class zoological park in Chicago’s western suburbs started around the time of the 1893 World’s Fair. Planning didn’t begin until 1919, when philanthropist Edith Rockefeller McCormick donated 80 acres of land to the Forest Preserves of Cook County.
The Forest Preserves provided the rest of the land, and the Chicago Zoological Society was created in 1921. They formed a public-private partnership to build and run the zoo as a private non-profit entity.
Today, the public-private partnership between Brookfield Zoo Chicago and the Forest Preserves of Cook County is considered one of the most successful in the country. This partnership not only anchors the zoo within one of the nation’s oldest and largest forest preserve districts, but also enhances community access through initiatives like the Forest Preserves’ Nature Express Bus program that connects more visitors to the zoo’s educational and recreational offerings.
Together, our organizations work side by side on important conservation and education programs. These include new efforts to protect wildlife health and preserve natural habitats, showing our shared commitment to conservation leadership and environmental education throughout Cook County.
