Four new areas at the Oregon Coast Aquarium are set to make a splash next spring.
Newport’s aquarium planned and fundraised through eight months of pandemic closures. The additions include a new great hall with a moon jellyfish feature, an outdoor amphitheater, and a new headwaters stream exhibit.
Spokesperson Courtney Klug said they’re most excited for the Children’s Nature Play Area. She told KLCC, “that’s going to feature massive logs that children can climb over, there’s going to be a climbing tower, there’s going to be a slide that acts as a mock river chute, it’s going to really allow children to kinetically connect with nature.”
Phase one funding came from private and foundation donors as well as $5 million dollars in state lottery bonds, and Klug added, “There are two more phases after that, and that will include improvements to our indoor galleries and construction of a marine rehabilitation center.”
Klug said the rehab facility will help them better work with stranded sea turtles and other sick or injured wildlife.
More information is on the aquarium's website, here.