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2004-12-09T20:59:00.000-08:00

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2004-12-09T17:39:00.000-08:00

ZOO LIGHTS!!!!

As autumn leaves fall, lights begin to bloom on the trees at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Over 150 oaks, maples and more, wrapped in strings of colorful lights, await the return of Cleveland’s brightest holiday tradition, ZooLights. This celebration of illumination returns for its 14th dazzling year December 3 – 23 and 26 – 30 from 5:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. each evening.

There will be lights as far as the eye can see. So many, in fact, that placed end-to-end, the strings of lights would stretch from Cleveland to Akron. Thirty miles of lights will decorate the Zoo’s landscape and buildings, along with a host of animated displays. Guests can enjoy the sights on foot or aboard a complimentary tram ride on the Sleighbell Express.

Lights aren’t the only attraction. Many of the Zoo’s winter-loving animals will be on exhibit including reindeer, bears and wolves. Wolf Wilderness is a favorite destination among ZooLights visitors. With its cozy fireplace and nightly entertainment, The Wolf Lodge is the perfect place to warm up and wind down.

Warmth and warthogs await those who visit the Pachyderm Building. Elephants, tapirs and tortoises too will be on view, along with the jolly old elf, Santa Claus. Santa will greet ZooLights visitors through December 23.

From massive animals to miniature locomotives, ZooLights offers something for everyone. The young and the young-at-heart will delight in an elaborate model railroad display in the Zoo’s Exhibit Hall courtesy of Depot Train & Hobby.

Nearby on the Welcome Plaza, skilled ice sculptors will transform ice into art as they showcase their talents every Friday and Saturday evening. And, the Public Greenhouse will be adorned with poinsettias, pines and seasonal decorations.

All tickets are $5.00 and will be available at the Zoo Box Office, open 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily except December 24 and 25. Children under age 2 and Cleveland Zoological Society members are free.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is located at 3900 Wildlife Way, easily accessible from Interstates 71, 90 and 480. Hours are from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily. Reduced winter admission rates through March 18, 2005 to the Zoo and The RainForest are $6 for adults ages 12 and older, $4 for children ages 2 - 11. Under age 2 and members are always free. There is no charge for parking.

(From Press Release)

Thank You!!!!!

2004-12-07T20:41:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all the voters who helped the Cleveland Metroparks pass this year's levy. 59 percent of all voters cast their vote to help the park system. The final vote count was 359,829 votes for the issue and 247,627 against the levy. With the passage of this issue the Cleveland Metroparks have ensured to remian one of the best parts of Cleveland for years to come. Thank you for keeping the "Emerald Necklace" open!

The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

2004-10-25T19:35:00.000-07:00

The Cleveland Metroparks is 87 years old and wants to keep growing.

This November the park system is asking for voter support!!!

The parks system is asking voters to approve a new property tax that would bring in $56 million a year, which is $18.7 million more than the current tax. The money would be used to run the 20,300-acre park district over the next 10 years.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, founded in 1892, is the seventh oldest zoo in the United States. Occupying 165 wooded acres, the recent acquisition of an adjacent 141 acres makes it one of the largest urban zoos. More than 3300 animals may be seen in modern, spacious settings and state-of-the-art exhibits.

"This levy is critical for our future," Hartenburg said.

The tax appears on the ballot as Issue 120, a 10-year, 1.8-mill levy.

It replaces a tax voters adopted in 1995, when two property tax issues were combined into one. If adopted, the owner of a home valued at $100,000 will pay $39.94 in property taxes, up from $26.65.

This one property tax accounts for 60 percent of the park district's budget. The other money comes from admissions fees at the district's golf courses, the zoo and various park programs.

The park system is putting the tax on the ballot a year early. That way, if voters reject it, park leaders still will have time to put it back on the ballot next year.

Treasurer Robert Miller said that if the tax fails, the park board would be forced to lay off staff next year, cut the budget by at least 5 percent and eliminate construction projects to make up a $35 million budget shortfall.

"The grass would be cut and the animals would be fed," Miller said. "We would keep the place going."

Cleveland Metroparks has never borrowed money and the district is debt-free. In its 87- year history, voters have defeated only one park tax issue, and that was in 1959.

"We're confident we've earned the respect of taxpayers," park Commissioner David Whitehead said.

The park district includes Cuyahoga County and Hinckley Township. It has parkland in 45 municipalities.

Since 1995, when voters adopted the tax issue, Cleveland Metroparks has made some dramatic changes.

It added the Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation in Cuyahoga Heights and the Washington Park Reservation in Cleveland, and it added parkland to the Garfield Reservation, Bedford Reservation and Mill Stream Run.

Metroparks has renovated nature centers at the Rocky River Reservation and Garfield Park and built a new ranger headquarters and park maintenance complex at the Rocky River Reservation. It has opened three major exhibits at the Cleveland Zoo, including a new animal hospital that opened last month.

Park staff have conducted numerous natural resource projects, such as an amphibian census, coyote and turtle research and deer fertility control.

"The levy is not going to give us a basket of easy money. It will give us the money to meet the needs of the next decade and our contractual needs of the next 10 years," said William Ryan, another park commissioner. "We do need it. This is basically money we need to subsist on."

Animals need your help!!!

2004-10-20T07:19:00.000-07:00

These animals need your help!!!

Many zoological parks and aquariums are funded with taxpayer money. One example is the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, which is completly funded by the metroparks system of the Cleveland area.

Other Blog Sites of Students

2004-10-14T20:05:00.001-07:00

Matt Nuzum's Blog on the 2004 Election
Election Info Blog

Ashley Bath's Blog on Genetic Engineering
Genetic Engineering Blog

Yianni Savoulidis' Blog on Credit Cards
Credit Card Blog

Other Similar Blogger's Work

Animal and Environmental Rights Blog

Another Blog about the Activities of a Zoo

Resource Directory

2004-10-14T20:04:00.001-07:00

Use these links to find more information about the issue!!!!
Cleveland.com----info on the local issue and its effects on the area
Cleveland.com

The American Zoo and Aquarium Association
A great site for info pertaining to the zoo and its national level of excellence and impact
AZA.org

The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Visit the site of the zoo we are striving to protect and support!
Clemetzoo.com