Shreveport Aquarium Breaks Ground

With ground breaking ceremonies this week officials are saying the new aquarium is set to open this summer. The Barnwell Center on Shreveport's downtown riverfront will be home to the new aquarium which will add to the family friendly things to do in downtown Shreveport.

The Shreveport Aquarium will feature many interactive areas where kids can touch sea stars, sea urchins, shrimp, sting rays, sharks, sea jellies and more including a giant touch tank for sharks and stingrays.

The city started this $4.3 Million project almost a year ago and are hoping it'll bring over 140,000 visitors in the first year it's open. "The beauty of this project will create an educational synergy between the aquarium and Sci-Port, something that will be very unique for our region" Said Mayor Ollie Tyler wednesday doing the aquariums press conference.

The aquarium will have more than 3,000 animals representing about 270 species of fish and invertebrates.