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Shreveport Aquarium Delays Grand Opening

SHREVEPORT AQUARIUM - Artist concept of the former Barnwell Center transformed into a new riverfront attraction.
Courtesy: Planet Aqua Group
SHREVEPORT AQUARIUM - Artist concept of the former Barnwell Center transformed into a new riverfront attraction.
SHREVEPORT AQUARIUM - Artist concept of the former Barnwell Center transformed into a new riverfront attraction.
Credit Courtesy: Planet Aqua Group
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Courtesy: Planet Aqua Group
SHREVEPORT AQUARIUM - Artist concept of the former Barnwell Center transformed into a new riverfront attraction.

CONSTRUCTION DELAYS -The Barnwell Garden & Art Center on Shreveport’s downtown riverfront is being transformed into the new Shreveport Aquarium which was originally scheduled to open at the end of August. But construction delays have forced the company Planet Aqua Group to push the grand opening back a bit as Jake Wood, aquarium spokesman explains there have been changes to the original building plans.  

Jake Wood, Spokesman-Planet Aqua Group
Credit Courtesy: Shreveport Times photo
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Courtesy: Shreveport Times photo
Jake Wood, Spokesman-Planet Aqua Group

One such change was to keep the iconic "Barnwell Dome" as part of the aquarium's concept so that will house a "Louisiana Wildlife" exhibit.  Other changes include taking what was originally to be a simple cafe into a full-service "polished-casual concept restaurant where you won't need a black tie to dine there but it's certainly not fast-food." There were adjustments to the front driveway to accommodate buses and additional parking will be created closer to the structure.   The new projected opening will be sometime in late September or early October.   To keep updated,  there's a website: http://shreveportaquarium.com

ICONIC LANDMARK - The dome of the old Barnwell Garden and Arts Center will be kept in the design of the new Shreveport Aquarium.
Credit Courtesy: Barnwell Memorial Gardens & Art Center
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Courtesy: Barnwell Memorial Gardens & Art Center
ICONIC LANDMARK - The dome of the old Barnwell Garden and Arts Center will be kept in the design of the new Shreveport Aquarium.
Credit Courtesy: Planet Aqua Group
/
Courtesy: Planet Aqua Group

CONSTRUCTION DELAYS -The Barnwell Garden & Art Center on Shreveport’s downtown riverfront is being transformed into the new Shreveport Aquarium which was originally scheduled to open at the end of August.

Copyright 2017 Red River Radio

Chuck Smith brings more than 30 years' experience to Red River Radio having started out as a radio news reporter and moving into television journalism as a newsmagazine producer / host, talk-show moderator, programming director and managing producer and news director / anchor for commercial, public broadcasting and educational television. He has more recently worked in advertising, marketing and public relations as a writer, video producer and media consultant. In pursuit of higher learning, Chuck studied Mass Communications at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia and motion picture / television production at the University of California at Los Angeles. He has also taught writing for television at York Technical College in Rock Hill, South Carolina and video / film production at Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport.