New tree house playground in Schwerin Zoo: a dream come true!

New tree house playground in Schwerin Zoo: a dream come true!

On July 24, 2025, a new main playground will be opened at Schwerin Zoo, which will not only provide fun and adventure, but also offer a modern, exciting space for little visitors. This playground replaces an older, outdated section and was financed through a successful crowdfunding campaign in the spring, which raised an impressive 100,000 euros. Numerous private individuals and companies merged, with the energy supplier Wemag covering half of the costs. NDR reports that the first visitors will soon be able to explore the new play area.

The new adventure playground offers five small tree houses arranged in a star shape and connected by exciting climbing structures. Here children can play, hunt and run around while letting their imaginations run wild. Particularly exciting are the areas where they can recreate zoo jobs, such as veterinarian or zoo shop employee. These offers not only promote creative play, but also a deeper understanding of the world of animals and zoo operations. WEMAG emphasizes that the planning phase for the playground is already underway and the final details of the concept are being worked out.

Crowdfunding: A successful model

The financing of the new playground is a prime example of successful crowdfunding. The concept makes it possible to collect small contributions from many people instead of relying on a few large sponsors. The WEMAG-Crowd platform plays a central role because it supports the public presentation of projects and makes it possible to mobilize a broad community for regional projects. Crowdify shows that this kind of commitment is not only financial but also beneficial for the community spirit.

In addition to financial support, donors receive exclusive rewards, such as overnight stays in the lion lodge or special animal encounters. These incentives can demonstrate the importance of involving supporters in the process and thanking them for their contribution.

A look into the future of the zoo

However, zoo director Tim Schikora's commitment goes beyond the opening of the playground. Under his leadership, giant otters have already been successfully released into the wild in Argentina. There are also other exciting plans on the Schwerin Zoo's agenda: a zoo campus, a wet meadow area and two tropical halls are planned, which will be home to various great apes. With these pioneering projects, the zoo shows that it not only functions as an entertainment venue, but also as an important player in the areas of species protection and education.

The Schwerin Zoo not only rethinks children's leisure activities, but also creates a space to impart knowledge about the animal world and promote sustainable nature conservation. With a shared look into the future, it will be exciting to see what further positive developments await us here.