Idaho Falls Zoo will see major changes in the coming years
The Idaho Falls Zoo is looking towards another record year with an estimated 123,000 plus visitors for the season and a $3.54 million impact on the local economy. Zoo staff hope to keep the momentum going and make the zoo an even larger attraction by making some major changes in the coming years.
“The Idaho Falls Zoo has produced a five-year plan (to the City Council),” said David Pennock, the zoo’s superintendent. “It’s a strategic plan so that we can know where we’re going, how we’re going to do it, and what are the steps we need to get there.”
The five major focuses of the zoo’s plan include strengthening the foundation, improving the visitor experience, conservation, broadening the reach, and maintaining the current atmosphere and accessibility of the zoo.
“We will spend the coming winter looking over all of our exhibits, looking over our education facilities, looking at our staff facilities, and coming up with a new master plan at the zoo so we know how to improve, and when we’re going to improve it and what money we need to raise to improve it,” said Pennock.
Initially zoo visitors won’t notice many changes at the zoo. Most of the adjustments will happen behind the scenes. “The zoo needs to improve itself as an organization first. And that will be step No. 1 with this planning and staffing changes,” said Pennock. “Then we’ll be moving on to more visible changes that you might notice as a daily visitor.”
Most of the major changes the zoo hopes to make include more land for the zoo to expand, more educational opportunities, more interactive exhibits, and seasonal exhibits that change every year.
Zoo staff say those plans won’t be finalized until they’ve seen the master plans for Tautphaus park. City leaders say those plans are close to being finished, and zoo staff won’t have to wait too long. “We’re pretty close to being able to have the Tautphaus Park master plan,” said John Radford with the Idaho Falls City Council. “Probably before December or early next year that should be approved.”
