Its been awhile since finally getting to see the master plan and as the summer is unofficially over its time to start looking at next year in the master plan of things. With construction well underway and the hoof stock area looking like its nearing completion. What's next for the zoo? I think we are all pretty aware that the zoos focus for the next couple of years is the hippos next and the rhinos after that. Looking past that things seem to be grim of sorts. With the zoo notifying the county that they projecting at least $240K deficit this year, and with deficits the previous years, are they in a good place to keep going with the master plan?
Honestly, I am not sure at the moment. Something needs to change at the zoo to draw in the crowds again more then just the couple of months during the summer. This is addressed partially in the new master plan, but vaguely. Looking at other zoos in the area, they have different things going on through out the year. One of the things I feel should be looked at is doing something during the holiday season. Like a festival of lights or something along those lines. I understand that they will be getting a bump in attendance once the first phase of construction is complete but looking at what they are now putting in their 5 year projects, they are pushing back Alaska Gold Coast area. Instead they are opting to go with more lower hanging fruit items that really don't need public support to be completed. Talking about new way to get into the zoo (like the west entrance), new welcome area, and a expanded penguin exhibit/zoomobile area.
The reason why I am concerned, granted I am looking from the outside and not knowing all the components to what is going on, is just looking at this first phase of the Adventure Africa. They were suppose to have the ability for mixed species with the elephants. Something completely not normally seen at zoos. Instead citing budget costs they decided to cut that component out. Yet they are still building in that ability some time in the near future. Wouldn't it makes sense to do it all at once thats logistically trying to figure it out later. That's one of my fears for this new Window to the Wild campaign, yes they are making steps to update the zoo, and yes I know a master plan is a guiding tool and not something written in stone. But, if you are working on a plan to to have all these animals together but your cutting it out, and claiming to come back to it later, and dealing with deficits/budget cuts over the years, wouldn't it make sense to maybe throw a Hail Mary to see if it helps the zoo. Thats not to say the zoo is in sort of danger of shutting down anytime soon, but isn't time to start thinking outside the box and creatively with year over year deficits?
Changing directions just a bit...
I've always had mixed feelings on the way the Milwaukee Zoo feels so much like you're in the wilderness - l it adds a lot to its unique charm and character, like the predator/prey aspect of the zoo, and of course any zoo should be reflective of nature. On the other hand, it makes getting around the zoo a lot more difficult, and you can get tired moving across large spaces between the large exhibits.
Still, looking over the revised map there's still a clear belt of space in the middle of the facility, and this offers room for some less constrained expansion. A very easy project could be an additional North American exhibit of some kind between Wild Woods and Gulf Coast to anchor the region as distinctly themed around the continent. I'm not sure what species might be appropriate without looking back over the plan though.
The prime real estate on my mind though, is above Asian Trail and the Farm and below Primate Jungle - an empty area between several existing facilities. I'm not sure if the scale is proper, but that seems like a solid place to put the Australian exhibit we've been discussing, for example. A smaller version would probably still be better than a basic walkabout.
There could even be a little space left below the Islands and the Jungle towards the Asian Trail, which might be a good place for a few species from the Southeast Asian islands. Use that empty corridor to place something that could connect with the Orangutans and the Tigers.
Another issue the zoo has with expansion is the train tracks. The tracks could just be moved elsewhere and change the train's course, but it would mean that the train would have to be closed during that time, and I am not sure how much it would cost to move the tracks.
One of the assets the zoo has that makes it different then most zoo is the park like setting. The zoo prides itself on feeling like the woods and escape from the hustle and bustle of the city life around it. The area that kind forms a belt in the middle of the zoo kinda forms a separation between upper half and lower half of the zoo. As much as I would agree there is potential for the zoo to use that as expansion area, it also seems like it would loose some of its character and charm. I feel like if anything would go there it should be service roads, because I am constantly jumping out of the way as vehicle after vehicle nearly run into me. Theres just to much traffic of vehicles going on at the zoo. Which also leads me into possibly moving the railroad, while it may cost a couple of thousands of dollars to move, part of the history of the railroad at the zoo was that it was the first thing built there before any exhibits. People could come and take the train around the zoo and watch the construction happen. Not only that but some of the exhibits, it gives you a behind the scenes tour. As much as I would like to see the zoo go about expanding into some of these wooded areas or moving the railroad, I have had to reflect on the past, understand what the zoo is, and where it may be heading with direction/message into the future. As of right now I don't think the zoo really should be cutting into that green built that much or expanding into the green areas that much. They have a large areas that could be adjusted to better suit the animals and the public before they start expanding into those areas.
I have never seen that thing for all my years of visiting.
