Gift to the Detroit Zoological Society carries forward Fred and Barbara Erb’s Legacy of Support

 

By John M. Erb, Chair, and Leslie Erb Liedtke, Trustee

We are proud to carry forward our parents’ legacy of support for the Detroit Zoological Society with a $6 million grant from the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation for the Fred and Barbara Erb Discovery Trails.

The interactive and immersive 7-acre Fred and Barbara Erb Discovery Trails will bring to life the Detroit Zoo’s mission of creating meaningful connections between people, animals, and the natural world so all can thrive. An imaginative farmer’s market will encourage play, and a flourishing garden will illustrate the life cycle of plants and how food grows. Accessible aerial adventures will elevate guests up to 11 feet off the ground and alternate between stationary sections and those that teeter and sway. Climbing and sliding experiences will inspire older children and their families to play and explore together, while toddlers can crawl among larger-than-life elements that bring nature into focus in their own youngster-safe area. The Stingray Cove will be home to stingrays and bamboo sharks, and children will learn about animal welfare and how to respectfully interact with the aquatic animals from experts in their care. In the renovated barnyard, visitors will pet goats and feed chickens; other featured animals within Fred and Barbara Erb Discovery Trails include prairie dogs, bush dogs, donkeys, anteaters, alpacas, and burrowing owls.

The Detroit Zoo and our family share a long history in Royal Oak. Our dad, Fred, was born into two of Royal Oak’s early pioneer families—the Erbs and the Lawsons. His paternal grandfather, Jacob Erb, a German immigrant, arrived in Royal Oak Township in 1856 and became a central figure in its early development, serving as postmaster, general store proprietor, co-founder of the Royal Oak Savings Bank, and champion of the village’s incorporation. The Detroit Zoo opened to the public in 1928. Around the same time, our mom, Barbara, grew up in Pleasant Ridge in a home that was demolished to build I-696, the southern edge of the Zoo. Later, our dad opened the first Erb Lumber store just a few minutes’ drive from the Zoo.

Our parents understood the value of arts and culture for education. Growing up, every weekend they would expose us to programs and institutions, including the Zoo. Years later, they continued this with their grandchildren. Fred and Barbara felt it was important that all children, not just their own, had these opportunities. In 2001 and 2006, they provided support for the Polar Passage in the Arctic Ring of Life.

Barbara and Fred both cared about their health and eating well. They regularly went to the Royal Oak Farmer’s Market. Our mom was there often, usually arriving when it opened. She also had a deep passion for organic gardening. We hope that the play-based farmer’s market and educational interactive displays on plants in the Fred and Barbara Erb Discovery Trails inspire children to develop a love of plants, healthy eating, and their environment.

We are proud to continue our parents’ support for the Detroit Zoological Society and look forward to the Fred and Barbara Erb Discovery Trails opening in 2026.

Visit the Detroit Zoo’s website to learn more about the Fred and Barbara Erb Discovery Trail.