The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) announced that Reid Park Zoo has received Significant Achievement for the 2025 Green Award. Out of the 110 applicants across all award categories, Reid Park Zoo was recognized for its dedication and efforts in increasing conservation and sustainability as a facility. The Honors and Awards ceremony, held on September 17, 2025, at AZA’s Annual Conference in Tampa, Fla., recognized the achievements of AZA-accredited facilities, from conservation efforts and facility design to volunteer engagement and more.
“Congratulations to the team at Reid Park Zoo for their hard work and dedication in achieving this remarkable recognition,” said Dan Ashe, president and CEO at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. “This award recognizes the best of the best in the global aquarium and zoo community. The work being done at Reid Park Zoo further strengthens the impact of our entire community and is something Tucson can be proud of.”
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums, through its Green Award, recognizes excellence in the area of institution-wide “green” programs designed to reduce the environmental impact of the organization, thus putting our conservation mission into action.
The leaders of the winning zoos and aquariums will be those who recognize that being green is a good business practice and directly contributes to the conservation of the natural world. The leaders of the winning institutions will have demonstrated commitment to continuous evaluation and improvement directly attributed to the recognition that our conservation mission begins with how we operate our facilities.
Reid Park Zoo was recognized for advancing energy and water efficiency while reducing its carbon footprint throughout its grounds and buildings. Key projects include the expanded use of solar and LED lighting, evaporative coolers in animal night houses, upgrades such as high speed pumps in the elephant habitat pools, and conversion to low-flow toilets in restrooms that are saving resources. In addition, the Zoo was recognized as sowing seeds for conservation and environmental education in the Tucson community through its promotion of programs such as the Plastic Free EcoChallenge, an effort to reduce the use of single-use plastics, diverting hundreds of thousands of pounds of plastics from the landfill and protecting our ecosystems.
Reid Park Zoo’s commitment to green building and sustainability practices is continuing with the construction of its new Pathway to Asia area opening in fall 2026.
“We are honored and humbled to have won the Green Award for Significant Achievement from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums,” said Nancy Kluge, President & CEO of Reid Park Zoo. “Sustainability has long been a guiding principle at Reid Park Zoo. From becoming the first zoo in the United States to have a platinum LEED building in 2008 to utilizing reclaimed water for irrigation from an early stage, our dedication runs deep. This was only possible because of the engagement and commitment of every staff member in every department and having the full support and encouragement of our governing board.”