Community Update
Greetings from Reid Park Zoo!
Summer is in full swing at Reid Park Zoo with special daytime hours of 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. through September 30. When visiting The Zoo, please remember to use sunscreen and bring your reusable water bottle to stay hydrated! For those wishing for a cooler experience, the Zoo is open every Saturday evening from 6-8 p.m. through August 10 for Summer Safari Nights with keeper chats, themed activities and live music. We hope you can join us for a relaxing evening to connect with the animals and take in a beautiful Tucson sunset. To thank the community and provide a break for those on a budget, the Zoo offers $3 admission per person every Tuesday in July during “$3 Ticket Tuesdays”; or you can also check out a Culture Pass at any Pima County Library for free admission for two people.
Pathway to Asia Construction In Progress
In May, the Zoo broke ground on Pathway to Asia, a 4.5-acre expansion that will introduce guests to the animals of the world’s largest continent. The addition is located at the site of the Zoo’s old parking lot.
The first phase of construction for Pathway to Asia is underway with the lot fully excavated and leveled.
Potholing is in progress to identify underground utility lines and lay the utility infrastructure for the new space. This includes adding a 24-inch pipe that will run underground from the Zoo to Gene C Reid Park to carry and reuse stormwater run-off for irrigation.
As part of the construction process, a portion of the public parking lot off 22nd street and Randolph Way remains closed as it is used as a construction staging site. The Zoo’s old parking lot is also permanently closed. Guests to Reid Park Zoo, the Edith Ball Adaptive Recreation Center and Gene C. Reid Park can find convenient parking in the new lot located north of the Adaptive Recreation Center (behind Hi Corbett Field). The new parking lot can also be accessed from Lakeshore Lane with accessible parking running around the Adaptive Rec Center and next to the Zoo entrance. Every effort is being made to minimize construction impact to the public. Thank you for your patience!
Water Systems Upgraded
A number of the Zoo’s animals are enjoying more refreshing dips in their pools these days.
The Zoo regularly monitors water quality throughout the grounds as well as in aquatic life support systems to ensure water meets the highest quality standards. This spring and summer, the Zoo’s maintenance team has been hard at work replacing worn water filtration equipment at the elephant and otter habitats with new, more effective models. They also installed a new water system at the capybara habitat to enhance biofiltration and provide optimum water quality for the animals. The pool system at the elephant habitat itself is complex – located 19-feet below ground!
The Zoo’s South America loop received some much-needed attention as well. A circulation system was added in the aviary to keep stream water moving (and prevent any stagnation) for the birds, and the Pacu pool received a new water pump and upgrade to more efficient glass media filtration.
“Keeping all the various water systems healthy and operational requires everything from dealing with weather impact to applying the right equipment to using ecofriendly substances for the animals specific water needs,” says Katy Runnells, Reid Park Zoo Certified Life Support Specialist “It’s a fine balance.”
The water improvement projects will continue with upgrades to the tapir and grizzly bear pools.
Having fresh, clean water is essential for the animals’ health. Throughout the year, and especially during the summer months, pools are also a crucial habitat enrichment, contributing to the animals’ wellbeing and quality of life. This water upgrade project represents a major investment for the Zoo, and we are thankful to Tucson voters for helping make it possible. As you can see, the animals really appreciate the improvements!
Reid Park Zoo Receives Green Business Certification
Conservation drives everything we do at Reid Park Zoo. You may know that the Zoo supports programs around the world to save wild animals and wild places, but we are equally committed to protecting the environment here at home through the choices we make as a business.
In April, Reid Park Zoo received a green business certification from Local First Arizona, reflecting its long-term dedication to sustainable practices.
The certification included water, energy and other audits and also looked at operational practices from the Zoo’s offices to using sustainable products in food and beverage. While the Zoo has had a long-term commitment to choosing sustainable business practices, this is the first time the Zoo has received certification as a green business.
As the Zoo has grown over the past 10 years, intentional choices have been made to construct sustainable, green buildings that meet industry-leading green building certifications. The Zoo’s Conservation Learning Center, built in 2016, was the first certified LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) platinum building in Southern Arizona. This commitment continues as we plan for the Zoo’s Pathway to Asia expansion, where the Kasser Family Lotus Pavilion, a 250-seat indoor meeting space, will also be built to green building standards.
Over the next year, the Zoo will be working to further reduce our environmental impact and grow our sustainability measures. Stay tuned!
Improvements and new additions at the Zoo that increase both animal wellbeing and the guest experience are made possible by the generosity of Tucson voters who approved a one tenth of one percent sales tax in 2017, as well as private and foundation donors, loyal members and the many guests who visit the Zoo each year. Thank you for your support, and we hope to see you at the Zoo soon!