Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

March 15, 2012 - Jacksonville, Fl -

Spring is right around the corner! When the temperatures start to rise, join the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens and cool off in Splash Ground, located in the Zoo’s Play Park. Splash Ground will re-open for the season on March 17, 2012 and will remain open until the end of September, depending on weather.  Kids can stay cool during their visit at the Zoo in a 4,000 square foot splash area where they can play next to life size replicas of whales, dolphins, a manatee, manta ray and sea turtles which feature water spouts coming from their tails and out of their mouths.  Splash Ground is open from 10:00 a.m. to one hour prior to Zoo closing. Splash Ground is free with Zoo admission. For more information on park hours and admission, please visit jacksonvillezoo.org.

For nearly a century, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been dedicated to inspiring the discovery and appreciation of wildlife through innovative experiences in a caring environment. Starting in 1914 with an animal collection that consisted of one red deer fawn, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens now has more than 2,000 rare and exotic animals and 1,000 plants. It has won national acclaim for its South American Range of the Jaguar exhibit and has the largest botanical garden in Northeast Florida. The Jacksonville Zoo is a non-profit organization and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).  It is open year-round, seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Christmas day, and is located on Jacksonville’s north side at 370 Zoo Parkway, one-half mile east from I-95.  For more information on the Zoo, log on to http://www.jacksonvillezoo.org.