September 28, 2023 (EUREKA, Calif.) - The Redwood Sky Walk at Sequoia Park Zoo in Eureka, California has been recognized with two national awards, an Exhibit Innovation Award and an Excellence in Marketing Significant Achievement Award by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The awards were presented on September 14, 2023, at the AZA annual conference in Columbus, Ohio.
The Sequoia Park Zoo is home to more than 150 individual animals representing over 50 species, including American black bears, Chacoan peccaries, Chilean flamingos, North American river otters, red pandas, and many more. The 6-acre zoo has been accredited by the AZA for more than 25 years and has long demonstrated its commitment to pursuing the highest standards of animal care, conservation, and education.
The two national AZA awards demonstrate the Sequoia Park Zoo’s industry leading position along other well-respected institutions nationwide. In addition to the Redwood Sky Walk at the Sequoia Park Zoo, this year’s awardees include two other prestigious California organizations that have led the industry for many years: The San Diego Zoo and The Monterey Bay Aquarium.
“California has long held a proud, globally recognized reputation for providing incredible visitor experiences,” said Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California. “The new Redwood Sky Walk provides an awe-inspiring and unique way to showcase California’s diverse natural landscapes. I want to congratulate the City of Eureka on this honor and the work they do to help propel California’s tourism economy forward. I’d also like to thank the AZA for once again recognizing the quality of California’s offerings across the state."
Since the spring of 2021, The Redwood Sky Walk and its promotional campaigns have helped attract, delight, and educate more than 200k visitors from around the world while showcasing the vibrancy of Northern California’s North Coast Redwood ecosystem. News coverage highlighting the attraction has spread around the world and reached millions of people in 9 languages and 11 different countries.
The accomplishments highlighted at this year’s AZA annual conference are credited to the collaborative work of several dedicated groups from across the City of Eureka, including: The City of Eureka City Manager’s Office, the City of Eureka Office of Community Services, The Sequoia Park Zoo, The Humboldt and Eureka Lodging Alliance, The Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation, and Eddy Alexander, the City of Eureka’s marketing agency of record.
“The city has had undeniable success with the addition of the Redwood Sky Walk at Sequoia Park Zoo and its opening has clearly helped the zoo meet and advance our education and conservation mission,” Sequoia Park Zoo Director Jim Campbell-Spickler said. “I am especially thankful to the diverse and talented teams that have poured their passion and expertise into ensuring the great potential of this once in a lifetime project was fully realized from early concept through final execution, and with every visitor, every day. To be recognized at this level by the AZA, an organization that is so dedicated to the same principals of education, conservation, and responsible animal care that we all value, is incredibly meaningful for all of us.”
For a complete list of the 2023 AZA honors and awards, visit: aza.org/honors-awards.