Phillips Park Zoo

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Phillips Park Zoo, located in Aurora, Illinois, USA, was originally established in 1915. Zoo exhibits include a Bald Eagle, Wolves, Foxes, Otters, Elk, Four-Horned Sheep, Pot-Bellied Pigs and Llamas. The zoo is open year-round and is free. The zoo is one of the oldest in the area. It was once home to exotic animals such as giraffes and monkeys, but the zoo's focus changed to native animals after Brookfield Zoo was opened in 1934. Today the zoo still has an exotic bird house as well as camens and other central american reptiles.

Next to the Zoo is Phillips Park. Attractions include the Sunken Garden, a golf course, Mastodon Lake, a waterfall, a large state-of-the-art playground, a toddlers playground, a jogging/bike path, fishing piers and recreational areas.

[edit] History

1915 The Phillips Park Zoo was established.
1916 The Birdhouse was built with a glass roof at a cost of $1,600.
- 1933 The Birdhouse was wrecked by a hailstorm.
- 1985 The new Birdhouse opened in May.
1920 The zoo had 5 black bears, 10 monkeys, 6 elk, 3 buffalo, 2 foxes, 1 wolf and 1 deer, in addition to hundreds of birds of every description.
1926 Bob Lisle built the stone wall leading to zoo.
1934 Once Brookfield Zoo opened, it was decided to focus on a collection of native animals, rather than the giraffes and other large exotic animals that were showcased prior.
1937 The zoo also became known as a museum, when the mastodon bones and tusks were displayed in the Birdhouse.
1937 The zoo was home to monkeys, a coyote, baboons, rabbits, bears, pigeons, parakeets, parrots and lovebirds.
1937 The animal pens were rehabbed and new cages added through a WPA Project.
1950 The barn was built in the zoo.
1964 The water wheel was built out of cypress.
1983 The original elk pen and small barn were constructed.
1984 The outdoor bird cage/bird flight was built.
1985 Judy the Bear was donated to the zoo. Judy died in 1999.
1985 A Macaw by the name of Farfel was donated by the Lincoln Park Zoo.
1985 Two black swans were donated by Ray Moses.
1986 The newborn Twin African Pygmy Goats named Billy Paul and Billy Joe arrived