Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
NFL star Chris Spielman's wife loses cancer battle
Man found dead in North Akron home is identified
Dad accused of forcing son into field, killing him
Coventry man killed in crash at I-77 ramp
Poor machine maintenance blamed for fire at Akron business
College student mistaken for deer, shot to death
Man allegedly paid teens to spit in his face
Indians add 7 players to 40-man roster
Body with gunshot wounds found in Canton Township creek
Blogs:
Pets:
Sick Pets Get High-tech Health Care
The Heldenfiles:
Friday Night Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
The proposed new LeBron mural doesn't do it for me
Akron Zips:
Two blowouts, one night
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Hey, somebody's gotta stick up for the Browns
Kent State Sports:
Singletary update
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs at Indiana Pacers – Here’s to LBJ and Free Throws
Buckeye Blogging:
OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
Varsity Letters:
Bowling season starts today
All Da King's Men:
Attention Haters, Palin And Hannity Together
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Muslim McCarthyism & Death Prayers
Akron Law Café:
Federal Judge Declares DOMA Unconstitutional
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Silverdome Potentially SOLD!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Norma asks if Barkitecture is still at Stan Hywet.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
Colloquium at University of Akron
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
By Carol Biliczky
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 01:08 p.m. EST, Nov 04, 2009
The Akron Zoo is taking steps to convert 16 acres of leased land into more space for attractions.
Spokesman David Barnhardt said the zoo has notified its neighbors that it is going to fence land that it has rented from the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority since 2000.
The zoo is paying $1 a year for 99 years to lease the land, which is north of the current park property.
''The first thing we plan to do is put a carousel there,'' Barnhardt said. ''We're working on the master plan now. In two or three years, we'll be making another animal addition.''
That exhibit — called Animals in the Treetops — could include monkeys and other climbing animals and would open in 2012 or 2013.
The carousel will open in August on the AMHA-leased land just north of the Lehnner Family Zoo Gardens. The zoo has hired Carousel Works of Mansfield to manufacture the $500,000 attraction's 33 animals and a chariot of hand-carved wood under a 36-foot top.
Meanwhile, the zoo is spending about $590,000 to enlarge ing its parking lot by 170 spaces to accommodate the added visitors that the carousel and future exhibits will draw.
When the current lot of 345 spaces is filled, the zoo refers visitors to Akron General Medical Center and shuttles them to the park property.
''Before we bring in any additional exhibits, we want to have enough parking,'' Barnhardt said.
The parking project will be completed by next spring.
Including the land that is to be fenced, the zoo is composed of 52 acres off of Edgewood Avenue, just west of downtown Akron.
Carol Biliczky can be reached at 330-996-3729 or cbiliczky@thebeaconjournal.com.
The Akron Zoo is taking steps to convert 16 acres of leased land into more space for attractions.
Spokesman David Barnhardt said the zoo has notified its neighbors that it is going to fence land that it has rented from the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority since 2000.
The zoo is paying $1 a year for 99 years to lease the land, which is north of the current park property.
''The first thing we plan to do is put a carousel there,'' Barnhardt said. ''We're working on the master plan now. In two or three years, we'll be making another animal addition.''
That exhibit — called Animals in the Treetops — could include monkeys and other climbing animals and would open in 2012 or 2013.
The carousel will open in August on the AMHA-leased land just north of the Lehnner Family Zoo Gardens. The zoo has hired Carousel Works of Mansfield to manufacture the $500,000 attraction's 33 animals and a chariot of hand-carved wood under a 36-foot top.
Meanwhile, the zoo is spending about $590,000 to enlarge ing its parking lot by 170 spaces to accommodate the added visitors that the carousel and future exhibits will draw.
When the current lot of 345 spaces is filled, the zoo refers visitors to Akron General Medical Center and shuttles them to the park property.
''Before we bring in any additional exhibits, we want to have enough parking,'' Barnhardt said.
The parking project will be completed by next spring.
Including the land that is to be fenced, the zoo is composed of 52 acres off of Edgewood Avenue, just west of downtown Akron.
Carol Biliczky can be reached at 330-996-3729 or cbiliczky@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
WADSWORTH, OH
Posted 02:43 PM, 11/04/2009
great choice with 'Carousel Works from Mansfield'.
I toured there facility and the craftsmanship will astound most.
akron, oh
Posted 02:45 PM, 11/04/2009
They oughta just move the carousel from Chapel Hill Mall. I very seldom see anyone riding it there.
somewhere near you, OH
Posted 03:27 PM, 11/04/2009
REAL bad idea. The zoo should focus on relocating, not expanding the current site.
Akron, OH
Posted 03:29 PM, 11/04/2009
Where can I see a map of the layout of this zoo?
akron, oh
Posted 03:38 PM, 11/04/2009
@r m,
Amazing you know how to post ignorant comments on here all the time, yet don't know how to use a search engine.
Columbus, OH
Posted 04:16 PM, 11/04/2009
Hey Question Authority, have you ever been in the Akron Zoo?
Its a nice little zoo, very clean and up to date. Would you rather tax payers pay a ton of money to relocate it? really, open your eyes and stop being ignorant.
Posted 05:16 PM, 11/04/2009
The Akron Zoo is great! Their efforts on behalf of all of Akron's children should be rewarded, not belittled.
Akron, OH
Posted 05:49 PM, 11/04/2009
The Zoo is a great feature of the city and I'm glad its here. I've made many trips and hope to continue doing so. It's nice to have such a great facility right nearby.
Posted 06:27 PM, 11/04/2009
Wow, I cannot believe the obviously racist comments about the "primates" in that area and urban zoo animals. Wow, God forgive you!
akron, oh
Posted 06:34 PM, 11/04/2009
Change it in norton, i bet that area look better that your area, akron zoo is very nice you should go sometime and educate your self!!!!
Wheaton, IL
Posted 07:12 PM, 11/04/2009
The Akron Zoo is WONDERFUL. Seriously, I take my kids to zoos all the time when we visit family in several other cities. Akron's is smallish, but big enough, and foot-for-foot, is my FAVORITE.
somewhere near you, OH
Posted 09:21 PM, 11/04/2009
tydurden
If anyone is being "ignorant" it's you. I'm talking about the area it's located, not the zoo itself.
That's a very bad part of town and has been for years. Any investment made there is throwing good money after bad.
Wadsworth, OH
Posted 07:34 AM, 11/05/2009
@Question Authority: How many zoos have you been to that are in good areas? Cleveland? No. Cincinnati? No? Columbus? Yes, but not close to the city.
akron, oh
Posted 07:45 AM, 11/05/2009
I believe it was the AMHA housing that made the area really bad. They tore it down. Im not sure of the rest of the area surrunding the zoo. We go to the zoo all the time and have never had a problem. We love the Akron Zoo. Would recommmend the zoo to anyone.
Posted 09:06 AM, 11/05/2009
One of the things I don't mind paying extra taxes for is the Akron zoo. The neighborhood has improved greatly over the last few years and is relatively safe. You can still drive a few blocks and buy crack or maybe catch a stray bullet, but the immediate area around the zoo is as safe as anywhere in the city. Its an outstanding zoo, lots of fun for the kids.
akron, oh
Posted 01:18 PM, 11/05/2009
This zoo brings in the crowd, and the city of Akron knows this. That is why there has been so many improvements around the zoo.
akron, Oh
Posted 02:35 PM, 11/05/2009
What belongs there is the Carousel from Geauga Lake and put the Big Dipper coaster there also. A Carousel is great for mom and small kids, but what about the dads and growing children. Hey, a coaster with your date on a Friday night would be cool. It must be. Ohio is the king of coasters. Put one in Akron like Summit Beach used to be. WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. Gravity and animals rule.
somewhere near you, OH
Posted 08:48 PM, 11/05/2009
Lebo
What's your point? Because some other zoos are stuck in bad areas we should follow their lead? I know you love to disagree with me but you usually bring some logic, however weak LOL! to the debate.
