Dr. De’Andrea Matthews previewed the detroit zoo’s new Fred and Barbara Erb discovery trails, set to join the zoo this summer. The vice president of access and community engagement said the addition will give visitors a hands-on experience with animals and a chance to feed them.
The trails also include climb-through nature-inspired play spaces, turning the visit into something more interactive than a standard walk past enclosures. Matthews joined Local 4 Live to give a sneak peek at the attraction.
Fred and Barbara Erb
The Detroit Zoo is adding the Fred and Barbara Erb discovery trails as a new attraction this summer. The name ties the project to the Erb family, while the design centers on direct animal interaction rather than viewing animals from a distance.
That mix of play spaces and feeding access gives the trails a specific visitor experience: time on the ground, close to the animals, with activities built into the path itself. For families planning a zoo visit this summer, the new area is the main addition now on deck.
Dr. De’Andrea Matthews
Matthews is the named zoo official tied to the preview, and her role places her in access and community engagement. She brought the trails into public view ahead of the summer addition, giving the first described look at how the space will be used.
The zoo has not laid out a date beyond this summer, so the practical detail for visitors is the experience itself: a new trail system with hands-on animal encounters, feeding opportunities, and nature-inspired play areas at the Detroit Zoo.
