For immediate release
Contact: Gina Stiles, 904-757-4463, ext. 210

JACKSONVILLE ZOO AND GARDENS

SET NEW RECORDS IN ATTENDANCE 

October 23, 2006– Jacksonville, FL –   Executive Director Dennis Pate announced the Zoo has set new records for general, member, holiday and home school attendance for its 2005/2006 fiscal year. General attendance increased 15% over the previous record year for a total of 709,502 visitors.   Membership increased 24%, and corporate and private catered events were up by 27%.  The number of teachers trained (686) also climbed to a record 65%. The announcement was made at the Zoo’s Annual Meeting on October 19, 2006. 

“The new Play Park, with its 4,000 square foot splash ground, the beautiful gardens and new landscaping, and of course the great weather, have all helped us to exceed our goals this past year,” remarked Pate.  “We are very pleased that the completion of this phase of our Capital Plan for growth and improvements has been so successful.  The Zoo and Gardens have really become a great community and regional resource for teachers, parents, children, and tourists,” Pate continued.

For over 90 years, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been dedicated to inspiring the discovery and appreciation of wildlife through innovative experience in a caring environment.  Starting in 1914 with an animal collection that consisted of one red deer fawn, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has grown to house more than 2,000 rare and exotic animals and over 1,500 unique plant species.  The Zoo is a non-profit organization and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).  Located on Jacksonville’s north side two miles off I-95, the Zoo is open year-round, 7 days a week, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information on the Zoo, log on to www.jacksonvillezoo.org.

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