Blank Park Zoo

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Blank Park Zoo
Date opened	May 8, 1966 [1]
Location	Des Moines, Iowa, USA
Land area	22 acres (89,000 m²) [1]
Coordinates	41°31′10″N, 93°37′27″W
Accreditations/ Memberships	AZA
Website
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Blank Park Zoo is a zoo on the south side Des Moines, Iowa near Fort Des Moines.

[edit] History

A.H. Blank donated $150,000 ($916,000 in 2005 dollars) in 1963 for the construction of a children's zoo.

In 1963, Mr. A.H. Blank donated $150,000 to the City of Des Moines to build a children’s zoo on decommissioned Fort Des Moines property. The Des Moines Children’s Zoo was opened on May 8, 1966, but the city made few capital improvements and was going to close the zoo. In 1981 a group of civic and business leaders formed the Blank Park Zoo Foundation to save the Zoo. The Foundation’s goal was to provide financial support for capital improvements, animal acquisitions and promotional/marketing activities. The zoo was closed for renovation at the end of the 1982 season.

During the early years, Zoo Director Bob Elgin pulled many publicity stunts to raise awareness of the Zoo. His many stories are chronicled in his two books.

The completely renovated 23.8-acre Blank Park Zoo opened in 1986 as an American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) accredited zoo. The renovated Zoo had a new mission of conservation, education and recreation, and featured geographic themed exhibits with spacious, naturally landscaped environments.

In 1995 the Blank Park Zoo Foundation purchased 25.3 additional acres of historic Fort Des Moines property and 9 historic buildings for future growth and expansion of the Zoo. It also began a capital campaign to build a new great cats exhibit and a 30,000 square foot indoor Discovery Center exhibit. On May 1, 1999 the Tom and Jo Ghrist Great Cats exhibit opened and on September 1, 2001, the Blank Park Zoo opened the Myron & Jackie Blank Discovery Center and became a year round attraction. On July 1, 2003 the Blank Park Zoo Foundation accepted the responsibility of the management and operations of the zoo from the City of Des Moines.

[edit] External link

• http://www.blankparkzoo.com/
• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 41.519318° -93.624206°
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