Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cleveland Zoo next project

fkalltheway said:
I think that instead of adding a major new area work should be done to link the existing areas. When I visited in March I felt like there were long walks between major areas with no exhibits. Walking from Africa to Northern Trek or Australia to Primate, Cat, Aquatics there are no animal exhibits at all. The long uphill deck walk provides scenic overlooks but exhibits could be intermixed here. Perhaps something like the Gibbon Ridge exhibit at the National Zoo. Gibbons have access to large netted enclosures on a hillside. This would keep the wooded feel of the uphill deck walk but would add something for visitors to look at. Also the Primate, Cat, and Aquatics building needs to be severely overhauled. The enclosures are basic at best and most seem very small. I would prefer to see more immersive exhibits instead of the current set-up where I feel like I am walking down a museum hallway.
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I like the way you're thinking, Link together some of the zoos areas better or improve existing exhibits not another major project.
 
Impalafrank said:
I like the way you're thinking, Link together some of the zoos areas better or improve existing exhibits not another major project.
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The exhibits in question are not salvageable,renovations are long overdue therefore there is really no way around a big project.Good news however are the huge crowds being brought in by the opening of Elephant Crossing.CMZ needs to find a way to sustain this boom in attendance.

Team Tapir
 
The original plans for Elephant Crossing included a new front entrance to the zoo.This eventually had to be cut and was supposed to done at a later time.However it now appears that these plans for new entrance have been completley scrapped in favor of something much bigger.These new plans would completely move the zoos main entrance from where it currently sits to behind the Rainforest which oddly is located outside the current zoo entry.The zoo would then more than likely turn its overflow lot into an everyday lot and use its Northern Trek entrance as a secondary everyday entrance.

Another possible project we have heard is a private event facility located at the site of the old bird building which would overlook the zoos African Savannah.Columbus has plans for something similar theirs includes a hotel.The big differnce being Columbus has space and huge amounts of money for a brand new Savanna.Cleveland's 1980's Savannah is three fairly large paddocks separated by awful looking chain link fence,not exactly what I wanna gaze out at during a private event.While we completely understand the concept that this facilty is intended to make money for the zoo we just don't feel its right for Cleveland at this time.Cleveland needs to get creative,get more money coming in and get a new Primate Forest project going.

Team Tapir
 
From what I've picked up and simply guessed, the next major project is determined by the age of the existing exhibits. The pachyderm building was first, so next would possibly be the Bear Grottos and Northern Trek in general. But given the decrepit state of the Primate Cats and Aquatics, who knows?

Spending as much time as I have at the zoo, I can't decide on what they should embark on first. Most - if not all, excluding African Elephant Crossing - need a significant facelift. They need to create something grand and unique, which I'm not sure will happen, with Columbus's Arctic Frontier and Cinci's new African exhibit to "compete" with. Yet space and the minimal factor of money are crucial to this, and neither is in extreme abundance presently.
 
According to a very good and high ranking source a renovation of the African Lion enclosure is going to be the next project Cleveland looks to accomplish.The zoo feels this can be done for a rather inexpensive price.

Team Tapir
 
I think that a renovation to the lion enclosure would be quite nice. I never really was a fan of it. I personally think that the Bontebok exhibit should be made easier to find. I had forgotten that it existed due to it being nestled behind the cafe in the food court.

While Cleveland has one of the largest primate collections around, I personally think that a new area for the primates would be a good thing. The indoor areas are somewhat outdated.
 
team tapir said:
According to a very good and high ranking source a renovation of the African Lion enclosure is going to be the next project Cleveland looks to accomplish.The zoo feels this can be done for a rather inexpensive price.

Team Tapir
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I would love to hear your source! :)
From what I had heard at a few higher-end, late-2011 ZooKeeper's Circle fundraisers, for the next big capital campaign, focus groups from staff wanted primates/gorillas, while the lead public vote was polar bear. I lean toward staff and would love to see a spacious new indoor/outdoor ape facility in the underused picnic area by PCA. (Then knock-down or gut/remodel PCA.)

That said, from other conversations I had (and, admittedly, somewhat eavesdropped into), including with Dr. Taylor, yes, they were targeting something on a smaller scale next. Lions would fit that. I heard a lot of murmurs about expanding the rhino exhibit over Monkey Island, as well. Whatever they decide, I know it is hard to say after dropping $25-million, but, I hope they keep the momentum rolling from the Elephant Xing and begin something soon!
 
The Lion renovation is not going to be a major capital project.Something like that (primates/bears) is quite a ways down the line from what we were told.Thats why our source felt confident lions would be next.Everything else Wyldjaguar mentioned is legit.We have also heard all of these possibilities in addition there is the new entrance and penguins which is often talked about.

Team Tapir
 
@ Team Tapir - from what you heard, I assume "lion redo" would be in line with the Lion Kopje project from the draft of the new Master Plan? If so, I would think that would signify the "new entrance project" would be toward the top of the list of forthcoming projects. (...which is why they haven't reassembled the Schreckengost Mammoth/Mastodon artwork at the front gate yet, right?!) :)
 
Your 2011 Annual Report includes a good plan overview and vision. I'm a little concerned about spending $1.6M for fundraising while taking in about $2.9M from membership; seems out of balance. But at 183 acres you seems to have space to spare for expansion in the years to come.

I'm planning a September zoo road trip to include Cleveland Zoo and will tell you my ideas after my visit. Congrats on getting the elephants back in 2011!

2011 Annual Report
 
Lets get the entrance project going and get those Shreckengost murals back up. Come on Cleveland lets see some history.
 
There have been rumblings about a possible Rhino exhibit expansion at some point down the line.Since the zoos vet building sits to the south of the rhino yard the only expansion option would be to expand to the north where the zoos most iconic exhibit sits (Monkey Island).So we would like to pose the question to fellow local zoochatters as well as those of you who have visited the zoo and are familiar with the exhibit.What should Cleveland do with Monkey Island

A.-Demoilsh it in favor of new expansion
B.-Preserve it as it is but no longer exhibit animals
C.Do nothing and continue to use the Island as they have for decades

By the way the Island orginally had about 40 Rhesus Monkeys and currently exhibits a troop of 5 Colobus Monkeys.Bonnie and I are split I voted B she voted C.We very interseted to hear what some of you have to say.

Team Tapir
 
I would like to add a D. I would like the zoo to come up with a way to modernize the exhibit, even if the main island part is more decorative part of the exhibit. They should expand the exhibit outward and add some grassy areas for the animals. The moat area could be replaced by glass to allow the animals to interact with the guests. A shade structure should be added because the animals will spend a lot of their time on the north shaded side of the exhibit. Mainly, I think the moat part is out of date, but the exhibit is in rather good shape for its age and it would be a shame to see it go entirely. But if it must go, I think they should use the island as part of the decoration of an expanded rhino exhibit. Either way, the island portion should remain.
 
You all know that the zoo posted a drawing of its masterplan draft in the zoo's most recent annual report that shows the future of the exhibits in question.
 
Wow, good, but tough, question. My initial, gut reaction says, "Tear it down?!? How could you?!" As mentioned, the historian in me recognizes it is the only WPA project at the zoo (outside, I believe, of some stairs between the greenhouses) and, maybe next to Wade Hall, probably the park's most iconic exhibit. Flipside, any local Zoochatter knows that exhibit has never really been the same after they removed the horde of Rhesus macaques. (Sure, they are a "lab rat" of the scientific community, pretty common, and don't "fit" the "African arc" of the zoo, but they were always entertaining to watch.) Considering Cleveland's harsh winter weather, I always thought a large troop of Japanese macaques (snow monkeys) would've been an acceptable alternative. (I know, not much different and it still doesn't fit the "African arc" of exhibits, but then again, neither does the neighboring Amur leopard.) :)

So, back to the original question - if it was done nicely, I'd be in favor of an expansion of the black rhino range. Expand the current yard and "bow-tie it" to include an adjacent, spacious white rhino range. I'm not sure how you could incorporate Monkey Island into the design; in my head, make Monkey Island the "midpoint of my bow-tie" and retrofit it so people could walk onto the island, using elevated boardwalks installed to overlook each side of the range? Otherwise, include a nice stone monument commemorating the location of historical significance.

@ gerenuk - I was fortunate enough to see the draft of the new masterplan at a CZS function last November. While I greatly respect Dr. Taylor and the Society, realistically, we'll be lucky if they get one, maybe two major projects completed by the time the next masterplan is submitted. (I'd be happy if they proved me wrong...)
 
I vote c continue to use it as intended and I really like Wyldjaguar's idea of having Japanese Macaques populate the island.
 
I too like the idea of Japanes Macaques for the island. I always feel kind of bad for the colobus. They seem out of place in such a rocky exhibit.

It would be nice if they could soften the exhibit a bit and break up some of the terraced stone with grassy areas. Doesn't have to be too much. I think just a little green grass in places would make all the difference.
 
heres the question? how many colobus monkeys,klipspringer,rock hyrax and persian leopard does the zoo have? if its only like 1-2 for each species then i say get rid of all and expand the rhino exhibit cause cleveland is well known for there successful breeding of black rhinos. and it would be well worth it. ship the other animals to other zoos where theres more animals of that species. I still think cleveland zoo should focus more on the primate,cat & aquatics building more than anything. i say demolish the building and the tortoise exhibit plus the cheetah exhibit as well and start from scratch. maybe even build a new medicine center up there and where the current one is build new exhibits for cheetah and gorilla plus other monkeys.Then i would worry bout Northern Trek. I would leave the wolf exhibit alone but fade out reindeer,crane,tufted deer,bears (sun bear,black bear,sloth bear and spectacled bear),sea lions and even the newly acquired onagers. then build a new polar bear exhibit with the harbor seals like detroit zoos arctic ring of life.and also build new exhibits for the amur tigers & grizzly bears. possibly maybe bring red pandas and snow leopards from the PCA building and build new exhibits for them. I dont see a problem with the current lion exhibit. also maybe even fade out andean condors & stellar sea eagles and built a african exhibit there even.
 
jusko88 said:
heres the question? how many colobus monkeys,klipspringer,rock hyrax and persian leopard does the zoo have? if its only like 1-2 for each species then i say get rid of all and expand the rhino exhibit cause cleveland is well known for there successful breeding of black rhinos. and it would be well worth it. ship the other animals to other zoos where theres more animals of that species. I still think cleveland zoo should focus more on the primate,cat & aquatics building more than anything. i say demolish the building and the tortoise exhibit plus the cheetah exhibit as well and start from scratch. maybe even build a new medicine center up there and where the current one is build new exhibits for cheetah and gorilla plus other monkeys.Then i would worry bout Northern Trek. I would leave the wolf exhibit alone but fade out reindeer,crane,tufted deer,bears (sun bear,black bear,sloth bear and spectacled bear),sea lions and even the newly acquired onagers. then build a new polar bear exhibit with the harbor seals like detroit zoos arctic ring of life.and also build new exhibits for the amur tigers & grizzly bears. possibly maybe bring red pandas and snow leopards from the PCA building and build new exhibits for them. I dont see a problem with the current lion exhibit. also maybe even fade out andean condors & stellar sea eagles and built a african exhibit there even.
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I cannot see Cleveland ever phasing out that many species. All the bears are staying because they are proud of their bear collection. They just live in crappy exhibits. If the zoo builds a new polar bear exhibit and sea lion exhibit, that was at one point likely to go in the Metropark next door according to Steve Taylor. At the rate Cleveland modernizes/changes things, by the time they are done, it will be 2050. It takes them five years at least per project since they do things at too big a scale at the same time. It has been mentioned that the zoo at some point wants to move the entrance to the zoo to put the RainForest actually in the zoo. I assume the front lot would be eliminated if this is done. It would make as much sense to build a new rhino exhibit in that lot and renovate their current exhibit for a different species. Just a thought.
 
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