Jackson zoo to open up to more visitors even with uncertain future Share Updated: 6:34 PM CDT Apr 26, 2021 Share Updated: 6:34 PM CDT Apr 26, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript OPEN DURING THE PANDEMIC BUT AS WE HEAD INTO THE SUMMER MONTHS THE MAYOR WANTS TO GIVE MORE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO VISIT THE ANIMAL PARK. THE FUTURE OF JACKSON ZOO IS UNCERTAIN AFTER ZOO OCEANARIUM SAID IT WAS ENDING NEGOTIATIONS AFTER TWO AND A HALF YEARS OF CONTRACT DISCUSSIONS WITH CITY LEADERS AS WE LOOK AT STRATEGY MOVING WORKOUT AZU OCEANARIUM SPOKESMAN BLAMES HIS DECISION ON SOME CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO THEY WERE HOSTILE TO THE IDEA OF AN OUTSIDE MANAGEMENT GROUP OPERATING THE ZOO. NOW SOME CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY, IT’S TIME TO HAVE A FRANK DISCUSSION WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHETHER TO CLOSE THE ZOO OR MOVE IT TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION. THE MAYOR SAYS THE CITY IS MAKING A HEAVY FINANCIAL INVESTMENT IN NEARBY NEIGHBORHOODS THAT INCLUDES PLANS TO REPAVE CAPITAL STREET AND DEMOLISH ABANDONED HOMES NEAR THE ZOO A MULTITUDE. OF OPINIONS ABOUT THE ZOO WHERE IT SHOULD BE WHERE IT SHOULD NOT BE BUT WE TRY TO CONSIDER ALL OF THIS IN A BALANCE SCALE WHERE WE LOOK AT THE 30,000 FOOT VIEW. I’VE BEEN HEARING PEOPLE SAY MOVE TO ZOO. JACKSON DOESN’T NEED A ZOO WE GOT OTHER PROBLEMS AND THEN I, YOU KNOW PEOPLE OF SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BUILD AREA AROUND SO WE CAN HAVE A THRIVING ZOO PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR ICE AND HARRIS BELIEFS. PEOPLE ARE STILL INTERESTED IN VISITING THE ZOO, EVEN THOUGH IT’S CURRENTLY OPEN ONLY ON WEEKENDS. TYPICALLY I CAN TELL YOU WE’VE BEEN AVERAGING ANYWHERE FROM ABOUT FIVE FOUR TO ABOUT 600 PEOPLE ON THOSE SATURDAYS ANDpS’ AS HIGH NOW STARTING MAY 6TH. THE ZOO WILL BE OPEN THURSDAYS AND FRIDAYS IN ADDITION TO WEEKENDS. THOSE HOURS EIGHT TEN IN THE MORNING UNTIL 4 IN THE EVENING. OF COURSE, THERE’S STILL UP IN THE AIR ABOUT WHO’S GOING TO BE THE FUTURE LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT COMPANY IN CHARGE OF THE ZOO FOR NOW. WE’RE LIVE IN W