Trail through Philly zoo and enhancements to libraries get funds from state

Library upgrades throughout Philadelphia and a new trail for zoo animals will be funded by the state's redevelopment assistance program, bringing total awards for area projects to $57.6 million as of Friday.

The Free Library of Philadelphia will receive $1 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program funds to support its 21st Century Libraries Initiative, a $57.9-million project to modernize its main branch and 49 neighborhood locations, according to a list posted to the state budget office's website.

The Philadelphia Zoo, meanwhile, was granted $1 million to develop its African Plains Trail, a trail system designed to let animals range through the zoo in ways that resemble their behavior in the wild, according to the list.

Also included are a $2 million RACP grant to develop properties east of the Montgomery County courthouse in Norristown, and a $1.38 million grant to enhance Thomas Jefferson University Hospital's Comprehensive Acute Rehabilitation Unit in Philadelphia.

The list covers projects for which a final decision has been made, with at least one more batch of award announcements likely, according to Jeffrey Sheridan, a spokesman for Gov. Wolf.