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Despite tough economy, zoo's business roars in April
By Don Cuddy
Standard-Times staff writer
 NEW
BEDFORD — A multitude of sounds fill the air at the
Buttonwood Park Zoo but the sweetest, to those who
oversee its operation, is the jingle of coins. A record
33,521 people visited the zoo in the month of April.
"April was the biggest month since the first two months
after the zoo opened," said zoo director Bill Langbauer,
who believes that increased attendance is largely due to
word-of-mouth advertising but that the zoo's success is
no accident.
"The zoo is being rediscovered," he said. "They
essentially bulldozed this place eight years ago. It's
taken a while, but more people are figuring out that
it's really a little gem."
The economic downturn may have boosted attendance in
April with people looking for outings closer to home,
Dr. Langbauer said, "but that doesn't account for
increased attendances every year over the past three
years."
David Prentiss is the executive director of the
Buttonwood Park Zoological Society, the nonprofit that
supports the zoo's mission. He said he believes that
attendance is up because the zoo has become so
attractive.
"Most cities this size don't even have a zoo, never mind
one of this quality," he said. "When officials from the
American Zoo and Aquarium Association visited us they
described Buttonwood as one of the finest small zoos in
the United States."
Established in 1894, Buttonwood is the twelfth oldest
zoo in the country. The oldest, Philadelphia, opened
just 20 years earlier.
On Sunday afternoon, a procession of families, the
majority with strollers, passed through the zoo's front
doors.
Tanya Montgomery was visiting with her grandchildren
Aliyah, 5 and Asia, 2. It was not their first visit.
"It's easily walkable for kids this age," Ms. Montgomery
said. "It's close by and it's reasonably priced."
The zoo's appeal extends far beyond New Bedford, as
Chris and Sheryl Foster from Hanover can attest.
"We drove over an hour to get here," Mr. Foster said as
he watched the elephants. The Fosters came with their
three children and Kevin Dupuis, a family friend. "We've
been here a couple of times before. We could have gone
somewhere else, but we like the price and it's a good
quality zoo."
Creating a family-friendly atmosphere has been a key
component of the zoo's effort to encourage return
visitors, Dr. Langbauer said.
"We want families to come back regularly and the key to
that has been our staff," he said. "You can stop anyone
to ask questions, and they will take the time to talk
with you."
Providing a family-friendly destination is just the tip
of the iceberg in terms of the zoo's overall mission,
Dr. Langbauer said.
Equally important are conservation and education
programs which will continue to expand, he said.
"We do conservation projects both locally and
internationally, so when you come here you are not only
having a good time but you are supporting animals
throughout the world. We are also doing more after-hours
events. This is the Year of the Frog, so we are planning
a Frog Aid concert here in August."
May 12, 2008
Source URL:
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080512/NEWS/805120333/-1/NEWS05 |
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