Sparky the sea lion is getting a new playground in her own back yard.

The 11-year-old, 208-pound California sea lion is currently hanging out in a section of Como Zoo’s Marine Mammal Building, but only until spring. That’s when Como Zoo plans to complete “Como Harbor,” a $21 million exhibit set to launch in spring 2020.

Como Harbor will be an enclosure in the center of Como Zoo for sea lions and seals, according to Michelle Furrer, the director of the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. It will host the Sparky show, which has been a mainstay of Como Zoo since the 1950s, but was put out of commission in 2017 when demolition began.

By the time renovations finish, Sparky and her friends will have three pools to swim in.

The Sparky show will be held in the largest of those, surrounded by an amphitheater and a viewing pavilion above the water.

The other two will be smaller pools, including one made free from public view for Sparky’s and the other animals’ alone time. In addition, underwater viewing spaces beneath the pavilion will allow visitors to see the show from a lower vantage point.

“Sparky in itself and the tradition that it had was already going to bring people in,” Furrer said. “(But) this is so transformational, having this modern zoological Sparky experience for a new generation.”

Como Zoo is also adding restrooms and a food venue to the area, which are expected to open to the public in the fall this year.

Furrer said one of the goals of opening Como Harbor is to provide a better habitat for the sea lions.

The new pools are filled with saltwater, which the sea lions prefer. They also will have control over which pool they want to swim in. Another goal is to allow the Sparky show to go year-round.

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St. Paul woman sentenced for manslaughter in man’s death; murder charge dismissed Kelley Dinsmore, a marine animal trainer at Como, has spent seven of her 14 years at the zoo with Sparky.

Dinsmore is exercising Sparky daily to stay ready for the shows.

According to Dinsmore, the sea lion show tends to be one of Como’s most popular attractions, but a seasoned veteran like Sparky likely won’t be intimidated when the lights come on.