While an old zoo in one town is a thing of the past, a new kind of park is going up in its place. And that new eco park now has some much needed funding. Here’s what’s next for the new Myrick Hixon EcoPark in La Crosse.

The zoo is closed but some of the animals are still hanging around and things here are starting to change.

"A lot of volunteers have put in a lot of time, a lot of effort to get to the stage where we are now," says EcoPark executive director Gim Gallagher.

The city council just approved $95,000 which will help build a new educational nature center at the EcoPark.

"The focus of all of the environmental education -- it will utilize the live animals exhibits that will be placed where the old zoo is right behind us,” Gallagher says. “We'll utilize the resources of the marsh and the river and the rabbit trails."

Some of the animals from the original zoo will stay and new animals will be brought in to help educate people about our local environment.

"People will learn when they look at the otters for example, that otters need clear water to catch fish in,” says Pat Caffrey, president of the EcoPark board of directors. “So maybe they'll think not to rake leaves into the gutter next time because that adds to the [dirtiness] of the water."

In the past, the zoo had to turn school groups away because it didn't have enough space. But the new nature center will allow EcoPark instructors to teach people in a traditional classroom setting.

Gallagher says, "We hope to make learning fun and make having fun education"

The EcoPark is still two years away from completion and Gallagher says it can't get here soon enough.

"We really need to be able to show people firsthand what the environment is, how it works and how fragile it is... what we as everyday citizens need to do about maintaining it."

Ground breaking for the new EcoPark nature center is scheduled for Friday, August 22 at 10 a.m.