The Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, Rhode Island, US, has opened the first landmark exhibit of its US$35m (£22.4m) masterplan.

The redesigned Africa exhibit, called The Fabric of Africa, cost US$11.06m (£7.08m) and was supposed to open in time for the summer season but was delayed.

The new exhibit features revamped elephant and giraffe yards and brand new habitats for the zebras, wildebeests and African wild dogs.

Funding came from charitable foundations including The Champlin Foundations and the Robert F. Stoico Foundation and bond monies approved by Rhode Island voters in 2004 and 2006.

David Cicilline, the mayor of Providence and co-chair of the zoo’s capital campaign, said: “This zoo is one of our city’s – and our state’s – greatest treasures, a regional attraction that we can all be proud of. With an average of more than half a million visitors per year, the zoo contributes an estimated US$13m (£8.32m) annually to the state economy.

“These world class improvements will allow Roger Williams Park Zoo to retain its position as one of Rhode Island’s top tourist attractions and remain a key driver in our tourism economy.”

The three remaining projects in the masterplan pipeline are a veterinary hospital and a children’s zoo – both to be completed in 2010 – as well as a new North American Trail, featuring polar bears. The timeframe for the completion of the exhibit will depend on fundraising.

The 134-year-old zoo is run by the Rhode Island Zoological Society and owned by the city of Providence.