OGDEN — A major expansion is on the way for Ogden's George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park, but it's forcing the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center next door to move out.

City leaders said they're trying their best to protect both organizations.

Board members at the museum said they're excited for future learning opportunities.

Watching those opportunities happen is huge for people like Jeff Bond, the park's education director. He said future improvements will help them show people even more.

"When I was in kindergarten back in the mid-'80s, we knew of about 300 dinosaurs. Now it's more than 1,100. Most of the dinosaurs that we have found have been discovered in my lifetime," he said.

One improvement, a dinosaur hatchery, will give designers and artists a dedicated space to prepare new exhibits. Shane Lyon, president of the museum's volunteer board, said the museum is looking to make about $2 million worth of improvements.

"It's just this wow factor. Every single time somebody comes," Lyon said.

An all-abilities playground, a volcano display and a work area for adults are all supported by donations.

"That's our biggest goal with this. We don't want to get stagnant. We want to grow," he said.

In the meantime, it's difficult to balance the vision of the park's future with that of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Construction delays for the dinosaur park can cost them more money, but a rushed deadline can hurt the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.

"We want to help," Lyon said. "We want to create a win-win opportunity."

Related:

Clipped wings: Utah's largest wildlife rehabilitation facility faces an uncertain future

Once Utah's largest wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility, the Ogden-based Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Northern Utah faces an uncertain future concerning the nonprofit's mission as a haven for local wildlife in need of a second chance at survival.

City leaders said they're trying to balance that progress while bringing more opportunities for families to learn.

The Wildlife Rehabilitation Center did get a month extension for its move-out date, and it now has until April to move. A city spokesperson said the city is doing its best to balance the two, not hurting the park with possible added costs that can come from delaying the expansion.

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