What do you want in a zoo?

By Cindy Landrum  

JANUARY 12, 2012 11:27 a.m. (0)

Or maybe it’s snakes, salamanders and scorpions.

Greenville residents will get their chance to tell consultants hired to work on a master plan for the Greenville Zoo what animals they’d like to see at the zoo, what they like about the facility in Cleveland Park and what they want changed.

Seattle-based PJA Architects +Landscape Architects, p.s. is analyzing the zoo’s current site at Cleveland Park as well as the zoo’s facilities and animal collections, said Dana Souza, the city’s director of parks and recreation.

The zoo has 14 acres, but only six are used because it sits on a hill. There are limited opportunities to expand because the zoo is landlocked. The parking lot is in a flood plain and is often full because of the popularity of Cleveland Park and the Swamp Rabbit Trail.

The consultants working on the master plan had leading roles in designing the animal exhibits in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which many consider to have set new standards for habitat representation.

The consultants have already met with city and zoo officials as well as talked to some community members.

At the public meeting, they’re expected to reveal what they’ve found as the zoo’s most popular animals through their research so far.

Once the consultants understand what the public wants, they’ll develop a plan to get there that will take 10 to 25 years to complete, Bullock said.

“We don’t want to duplicate Riverbanks or Atlanta,” he said. “We want to look at how we can be unique.”

0Bullock said a lot of people ask about tigers. Years ago, the zoo had a white tiger on temporary display, he said.

In addition to the animal collection, consultants will look at signage, guest services such as location and offerings at the concession stands, parking, the zoo’s entrance, staffing levels and what areas in the park can be developed.

Souza said he expects that unless the constraints at the current site are so significant that a quality zoo and quality exhibits aren’t possible, the zoo to stay where it is.

If the current site is not sufficient for what residents want, the zoo could move, Souza said.

Souza said he recommends people visit the zoo before the public meeting or filling out the survey so they have an up-to-date perception of the facility.

There will be two additional public meetings before the plan is finalized, Souza said.

Bullock said the zoo just completed its second-best attendance year with more than 250,000 visitors.

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