Zoo offers voters deal on bond OK

By Leigh Dethman
Deseret Morning News
Published: Wednesday, June 13, 2007 12:02 a.m. MDT
E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Want half-price admission to Hogle Zoo one day a week? Zoo leaders say they'll make good on that offer to Salt Lake County residents if county voters approve a $65 million bond to revamp the facility's aging exhibits.

Hogle Zoo executive director Craig Dinsmore made the pitch Tuesday while lobbying Salt Lake County leaders to put a $65 million bond question on the November ballot.

Dinsmore said the money would be used with $20 million in private donations to transform the zoo's aging exhibits through modern enhancements.

Zoo officials want to build a new aquarium complex, a gorilla forest expansion, African Savanna and large polar bear exhibits, a renovated penguin enclosure and an "enhanced" south entrance with 400 more parking spots.

The additions are part of the zoo's 30-year master plan to "Renew the Zoo."

The most expensive new exhibit would cost about $15 million. The Arctic Zone would have space for five adult polar bears to swim in an underwater viewing tank, chill in an ice cave and even dig into the ground. The area could also include bald eagles, seals and snowy owls.

The exhibits also will feature more endangered animals to help preserve their species. The zoo chose polar bears as a priority because they are slowly dying off. Global warming has decreased sea ice in Arctic regions, leaving less space for polar bears to roam.

Story continues below
Salt Lake City voters already have funded two new exhibits at the zoo, as well as a new entry plaza. Seventy percent of voters approved a $10.2 million bond, which paid for the zoo to redo the entry plaza in 2001 and create the Elephant Encounters exhibit in 2005 and the Asian Highlands exhibit in 2006.

County Councilman David Wilde said Salt Lake County taxpayers shouldn't have to bear the burden of a $65 million bond alone, because people from across the state visit Hogle Zoo. But zoo officials said that 65 percent of all visitors to the zoo in 2006 were from Salt Lake County.

E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.