ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOX) – Looking for big ideas, the St. Louis Zoo is asking the public to make suggestions on how to use the recently-acquired 13 acre site of the old Forest Park hospital on Oakland across interstate 64 from the Zoo.

Zoo Director Dr. Jeffery Bonner says at this point, there are no bad ideas. However he hopes the final project will be powerful.

“That’s what’s in the end, that’s what going to make this a successful project or just another project,” Bonner told KMOX.

Ideas on the table so far include, a research and breeding facility for Zoo animals, extra parking, a tourist hotel, and a water park.

The initial planning is expected to take six months, then another six-months to draw up a master plan.

The cost of the expansion would be borne by donors, and there are no plans to charge admission to the Zoo.