OKC Zoo

[d-usa]

Yes, Phase II of the Asia exhibit and it's massive and ambitious.

I'm very much looking forward to it.

I've been reading the Zoo Trust minutes for the past year (just because I enjoy everything about the Zoo, and it's very interesting to get this 'behind the scenes' look at the Zoo) and it looks like they have been very diligent about getting this right.

[HangryHippo]

I was at a zoo function not long ago and several employees had some very troubling things to say about the new(ish) executive director, Mr. Lawson.

[Laramie]

Definitely a 'big time' development for the OKC Zoo as it continues to get bigger & better.

These are quality developments planned. Most zoos throughout the country aren't as aggressive as our Zoo; nor do they have the funding mechanism in place to expand and construct quality exhibits.

The whole Adventure District is beginning to take shape with the Zoo, Softball Hall of Fame & stadium complex, Firefighters Museum, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and Remington Racing & Casino providing some great tourist attractions in that district.

Come 2020, this area will be Big League . . .

[Pete]

This new exhibit will be in what has always been the very back of the zoo and a place many don't bother to visit.

Because it's at a somewhat remote spot, they are planning a big food court and other amenities. Should be pretty elaborate in addition to all the animal areas.

[AP]

Are there any renderings or a map? Every time I've been to the zoo (frequently, because I'm slightly obsessed) the elephant exhibit is one of the busiest. Is that the area you're referring to?

[gurantula35]

I have all the detailed plans and will post them later.

when should we expect this, Pete?

[d-usa]

This new exhibit will be in what has always been the very back of the zoo and a place many don't bother to visit.

Because it's at a somewhat remote spot, they are planning a big food court and other amenities. Should be pretty elaborate in addition to all the animal areas.

It should really help the flow throughout the whole zoo.

One thing they have done recently was to connect the Oklahoma Trails to the loop around the Giraffes by the new hospital. I am always amazed what a difference that little bit of concrete makes. I always felt that the Giraffe loop was somewhat out of the way and disconnected from the flow of the rest of the zoo.

If the map out the new Asia exhibit well we could end up with a giant loop, which would be great. Enter the zoo and head left, go past the aviaries, cut through the children's zoo, then the aquarium, head back along the lake, Island Life, big cats, Oklahoma Trails, Great EscApe, Elephants, Asia, Giraffes, and then you are back at the entrance area.

Although moving the Giraffes is part of the plan for the Africa exhibit they got planned for the future.

They have done a lot of small chances that really made a difference as well. They got rid of the tall wood fences around Island Life and a few other areas, and the zoo feels a lot more open with that simple chance.

[pure]

The best part of our zoo has the be the admission price, $8 for an adult is crazy cheap. My wife and I go to zoo's all over the country when we travel and the average price of admission is around $15-$20 per person, I've even paid like $50 to get into a zoo (San Diego). For the size and how nice our zoo is, I'm surprised admission is not $20 a person.

[Pete]

Construction plans have been put out to bid to greatly expand and enhance the Asia Exhibit at the Oklahoma City Zoo.

Plans show over 300,000 square feet of building space spread over 15 acres next to the existing Elephant Habitat and bridging into the elevated walkway system.

The main structure will be a massive Thai temple styled 2-story food court.

There will be night buildings for rhinos and various other animals, and a elephant crossing to allow them to move from the existing exhibit.

Animals shown on the plans include Komodo dragon, rhino, elephant, ibis, crane, langur, tanuki, and cassowary.

Also to be included would be shade structures for the animals, night houses and an elephant and rhino lagoon.

The new exhibit should start construction soon and open in 2019. Other longer-term plans show the existing Rhino area turned into a sprawling Africa exhibit.

The Oklahoma City Zoo sees more than 1 million visitors a year.

[Laramie]

Awesome!

This blends in with the design theme of the exiting new structures built since the 1/8 cent permanent penny sales tax that supports the zoo.

[dcsooner]

This is very cool. OKC Zoo has been one of the best in North America for some time, but it continues to get even better. Another jewel in OKC

[HOT ROD]

I love the zoo and can't wait to visit the city again and the zoo!!

and I fully support the sales tax for it; but I hope/think the city should build a similar sales tax for Transit. Maybe after the zoo gets built up the next few years, split the 1/8 current tax so that the zoo gets 1/16 and transit gets 1/16. ...

As I imagine the new infrastructure at the zoo will allow it to collect much more from admissions (and they could increase their rate a little bit; OKC zoo is Sooooo inexpensive, esp for its size and status); they likely won't need the tax as much as they do now with the tax geared toward the capital payments.

We're going to need a permanent transit funding mechanism; maybe we can revise some of these that are earmarked as their much needed capital improvements come online.

[Laramie]

Why cut the Zoo's permanent tax. The only way we are going to put a dent into any kind of support for transit initiatives is to devote a full penny or 1/2 penny sales tax toward the transit cause.

We should consider a permanent MAPS' sales tax with 50 percent of collections devoted to transit. You would have a permanent solution for funding transit & its infrastructure; yet continue to pay for future funding for capital improvements.

A MAPS' permanent tax would allow the city to pay for transit & capital improvements debt free.

[jdross1982]

Why cut the Zoo's permanent tax. The only way we are going to put a dent into any kind of support for transit initiatives is to devote a full penny or 1/2 penny sales tax toward the transit cause.

We should consider a permanent MAPS' sales tax with 50 percent of collections devoted to transit. You would have a permanent solution for funding transit & its infrastructure; yet continue to pay for future funding for capital improvements.

A MAPS' permanent tax would allow the city to pay for transit & capital improvements debt free.

With OKC already having such a high sales tax already, I think the better route would be to increase the fuel tax by .01 and have that go to funding transit. I would like to see it at .05 but the .01 is a start.

[Tundra]

Why do we need higher taxes? I'm not sure about the rest of you, but I pay 40% of my earnings in taxes....How about a decrease from time to time..

[HOT ROD]

jdross, I agree that the fuel tax should be increased to pay for metro transit operations. OKC has the lowest tax in the region, I think it could be marginally increased to fund transit (say even 10 cents per gallon or less).

Larry: I wasn't saying kill the zoo tax, I was saying maybe now would be a good time to revise it since the zoo has benefited and looks like it could now be more self sustaining (particularly if it raised the admission price to a like-wise amount compared to other zoos its size/stature). The 'difference' in the newly named (my name) OKC capital improvements sales tax could be transitioned to other entities that wouldn't otherwise qualify for MAPS. The Zoo should always qualify IMO but perhaps not at the current level given where they are headed (which SHOULD make OKC the top 3 zoo in the country or higher). ...

[Laramie]

The Zoo originally promised to keep admission prices down if the 1/8 cent permanent tax was passed.

It has been some 26 years (1990) since the Zoo passed that much appreciated tax. The state of the Oklahoma City Zoo in an Oklahoman article July 9, 1990: http://newsok.com/article/2323433

Admission prices for Zoos in our region:

Dallas Zoo:
$15.00 Adults (age 12-64) , $12.00 Seniors (65+), $12.00 Children (age 3-11), Toddlers (age 2 & under free)

Denver Zoo: (consistently ranked as one of the top 10 zoos in the United States)
$17.00 Adults (Ages 12-64), $14.00 Seniors (Ages 65+), $12.00 Children (Ages 3-11), Toddlers (age 2 & under free)

Fort Worth Zoo: (Often ranked as one of the top 10 zoos in the United States)
$14.00 Adults (13+), $10.00 Children (3-12), Toddlers (age 2 & under free)

Memphis Zoo: (Often ranked as one of the top 10 zoos in the United States)
$15.00 Adults (Ages 12-59), $14.00 Seniors (Age 60+), $10.00 Children (Ages 2-11)'

Oklahoma City Zoo: (Often ranked as one of the top 10 zoos in the United States)
$8.00 for Adults (12-64), $5.00 Seniors (65+), $5.00 Children (3-11) , Toddlers (age 2 & under free)

Omaha (Henry Doorly Zoo): (consistently ranked as one of the top 10 zoos in the United States)
$18.95 Adults (12 & over), $17.95 Seniors (65+), $17.95 Military Adult (12 & over), $11.95 Military Child (3-11), Toddlers (age 2 & under free)

St. Louis zoo: (consistently ranked as one of the top 10 zoos in the United States)
Prices vary per exhibit which range from $2.00 - $5.00 per exhibit
https://www.stlzoo.org/visit/hourspricesdirections/

Tulsa Zoo:
$10 for Adults (12+), $8.00 Seniors (65+), $6.00 Children (3-11) ,Toddlers (age 2 & under free)

Wichita (Sedgwick County Zoo):
$14.95 Adults (ages 12-61) $11.95 Seniors (62+) $9.95 Children (3-11) Toddlers (age 2 & under free)

As you can see, admission prices for competing zoos in our region is twice that of the OKC Zoo. We still have a long way to go. We want to be 'consistently ranked' as one of the top 10 zoos in the United States. Give us until 2020, OKC should make that list.

[d-usa]

I'm a Zoofriends member, but I would much rather have us keep the sales tax and remain an $8 Zoo that can be enjoyed by almost everyone in the city. I've been to many of the more expensive Zoos, sometimes paying for parking on top of admission, and with some not letting you bring in outside food or drink.

In Oklahoma City, even without Zoofriends membership, I am able to take a small cooler bag, load it up with drinks and snacks and take my 2 year old out and spend all day at the Zoo for $8 without having to pay for parking or food. And since we have Zoofriends, we have met up with friends or family and ended up paying $16 for 4 adults, 2 toddlers, and 5 kids. All while bringing along a couple of red wagons and an ice chest full of snacks and drinks.

Being funded via the tax vs having to rely on admission is part of what makes our zoo great, in my opinion. For the people in Oklahoma City is is as much a park as it is a zoo, and can be enjoyed by people from all socioeconomic backgrounds.

[Jeepnokc]

I'm a Zoofriends member, but I would much rather have us keep the sales tax and remain an $8 Zoo that can be enjoyed by almost everyone in the city. I've been to many of the more expensive Zoos, sometimes paying for parking on top of admission, and with some not letting you bring in outside food or drink.

In Oklahoma City, even without Zoofriends membership, I am able to take a small cooler bag, load it up with drinks and snacks and take my 2 year old out and spend all day at the Zoo for $8 without having to pay for parking or food. And since we have Zoofriends, we have met up with friends or family and ended up paying $16 for 4 adults, 2 toddlers, and 5 kids. All while bringing along a couple of red wagons and an ice chest full of snacks and drinks.

Being funded via the tax vs having to rely on admission is part of what makes our zoo great, in my opinion. For the people in Oklahoma City is is as much a park as it is a zoo, and can be enjoyed by people from all socioeconomic backgrounds.

This! Well said.

[Laramie]

I'm a Zoofriends member, but I would much rather have us keep the sales tax and remain an $8 Zoo that can be enjoyed by almost everyone in the city. I've been to many of the more expensive Zoos, sometimes paying for parking on top of admission, and with some not letting you bring in outside food or drink.

In Oklahoma City, even without Zoofriends membership, I am able to take a small cooler bag, load it up with drinks and snacks and take my 2 year old out and spend all day at the Zoo for $8 without having to pay for parking or food. And since we have Zoofriends, we have met up with friends or family and ended up paying $16 for 4 adults, 2 toddlers, and 5 kids. All while bringing along a couple of red wagons and an ice chest full of snacks and drinks.

Being funded via the tax vs having to rely on admission is part of what makes our zoo great, in my opinion. For the people in Oklahoma City is is as much a park as it is a zoo, and can be enjoyed by people from all socioeconomic backgrounds.

Amen Bro,

Just want to echo Jeepnokc 's reply, 'Well said!

[HOT ROD]

guys, Im not saying take away the tax; I'm saying maybe revisit it and raise admissions a little bit.

I think OKC could get away nicely with admissions being $10.00 Adult, $7.00 Senior/Military, $5.00 Children 3+ and the tax set at 1/16 (instead of 1/8). That's my opinion but it wouldn't be a huge increase in admissions nor decrease in the tax but would open the funding source to other city venues or infrastructure that also needs a 'permanent' solution.

Again, I think we need to keep the tax - just the rate I'm saying should be revisited at some point.

[Laramie]

The rate is really not that much (1/8 cent on the dollar). This was voted a permanent tax back in 1990. Some 26 years ago; inflation has caught up with the buying power of the dollar.

Our OKC Zoo promised the citizens that in return for passing the permanent sales tax; they would keep admission prices low.

The OKC Zoo in our Adventure District attracts a lot of tourists; along with other attractions like the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Remington Park, Fire Fighters Museum, Softball Hall of Fame, Women's College World Series (WCWS) & the World Cup of Softball events held at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.

The Oklahoma Zoo Amphitheater could probably use some upgrades. Would like to see this venue addressed.

We have one of the best zoos in our region with the lowest admission (reference post #117).

[Pete]

The parking project has commenced:

[warreng88]

Pete, where are the details of the new parking lot? We love going to the zoo, but wish the entrance was better laid out. Since you are coming in on the south of the parking lot and have to turn left, you have to cross over with people crossing from the parking lot. I wish the entrance was off of Remington Place, as we as the exit, much like the science museum.

[Pete]

I know I posted this before but can't figure out why it's not on this thread.