The "New Griffith Park Zoo" Friday refers to opened in 1966 and was actually called the Los Angeles [or LA] Zoo. It replaced the Griffith Park Zoo, which was located about two miles south.
The new zoo was very innovative for its time. It utilized more-natural features such as boulders, waterfalls, and natural-looking bodies of water, striving to closely simulate the animals' natural habitats. The animals roamed large, grassy enclosures; they swam and played in pools of water resembling lakes and rivers. This was in stark contrast to the old zoo, with its concrete and steel cages.
The new zoo was very innovative for its time. It utilized more-natural features such as boulders, waterfalls, and natural-looking bodies of water, striving to closely simulate the animals' natural habitats. The animals roamed large, grassy enclosures; they swam and played in pools of water resembling lakes and rivers. This was in stark contrast to the old zoo, with its concrete and steel cages.