Broomfield City Council unanimously approved the Butterfly Pavillion’s move into its North Park neighborhood Tuesday night, .
The pavilion and its affiliate Center for Invertebrate Research and Conservation will have a new 60,000 square foot facility that covers eight acres near the intersection of Interstate 25 and Colorado 7. The city of Broomfield will share the facilities for library, recreational, educational, workforce and administration use.
The new facility will cost $33 million, . The city of Broomfield will be contributing $7 million and the Butterfly Pavilion will be contributing $16 million. A $1 fee will be applied to the cost of admission, raising $6 million for construction costs. Developer McWhinney donated land valued at $4 million.
The in the world, Broomfield mayor Randy Ahrens said.
The new facility will be part of the city’s science district in its 900-acre North Park neighborhood, which will also become a pollinator district will in parks, open spaces, corridors and rooftops.
, Ahrens said during a press conference Tuesday.
Councilman Sam Taylor celebrated the move during the City Council meeting by eating a roasted cricket provided by the pavilion. He said it was both good and crispy.
CORRECTION: This story was updated on Oct. 3, 2017, to clarify that the Butterfly Pavilion is one of two invertebrate zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
