acre zoo located avenue eastern brooklyn new_york_city precursor opened present facility opened city zoo july larger program city parks initiated parks commissioner built large labor funding years operation city zoo run prospect park zoo closed june reconstruction closure signaled start year million renovation program save 1930s era buildings completely replaced zoo october joining integrated system managed presently offers children educational programs engaged restoration endangered species populations runs wildlife theater reaches local community volunteer programs zoo houses nearly animals representing species averages visitors annually features integrated network spread new_york_city located zoo situated acre plot somewhat lower street level prospect park visitors enter avenue entrance prospect park near homestead exhibits zoo presents themed exhibition venues housed dedicated building world animals world animals southern quadrant zoo features discovery trail trail begins world animals building visitors quickly pass outdoor path winds southern zoo animals diverse corners globe shown settings unlike natural habitats visitors find trail black tailed prairie dogs red north american river animals signs ask challenging questions reinforcing presentations zoo discovery center alert viewers look signs animal discovery trail young visitors crawl underground observation posts clear observation ports observe prairie dogs ground right midst animals animal lifestyles western quadrant zoo features indoor habitat exhibits visitors building shown life water life air life land holds carefully controlled environment features select animals central displays broadly relate animals surrounds exhibits featuring specific branch central exhibits center cotton tree dwarf desert monitors exhibits feature critically endangered animals engaged breeding species captivity larger wild life recovery program main exhibit consists troop zoo visitors observe troop large gallery looks rocky small caves lead interior animals avoid weather rear wall gallery illustrates common forms signalling behavior social aspects animals ample seating allows visitors observe troop animals lives animals lives northern quadrant zoo indoor outdoor exhibits illustrating relationships animals people animal adaptations animals art themed area occupies animals lives building art station drawing supplies provided young visitors learn observe wildlife taking time sketch animals found subjects art ages close exhibits highlight inherent beauty form certain species building showcases animals adaptations variety survival needs visitors learn colors help animals attract blend surroundings send warning signals small nocturnal area showcases animals adapted life night small working barn north building contains animals lives exhibit organized working barn sheep cows goats ducks animals educational programs zoo hosts educational venues exhibits revolve discovery center building classrooms laboratories designed introduce school age children investigative practices environmental wildlife scientists discovery center introduces children laboratory practices learn use professional laboratory equipment learn integrate observe theory programs based educational concepts developed program developed volunteer program engages members community combination outreach educational program adults volunteer guides conduct tours visitors volunteer augment educational program month training program following graduation assist staff putting demonstrations explaining exhibits facilities zoo grounds building designed facility consists red brick lime trimmed buildings grouped semi circular arrangement central courtyard sea lion pool occupying center court building date 1930s interiors built reconstruction wooden barn north circular group buildings set stairs main entrance leads visitors zoo level small restaurant administrative center immediately left occupying southeastern quadrant zoo immediately right occupying northeastern quadrant zoo visitor exhibit buildings south animal lifestyles building sea lion pool directly visitor animals lives right visitors view exhibits order history context proposal original proposal prospect park featured garden western flank park near present villa garden started time separated park notwithstanding features original park design serve purposes wild pond occupying northern quadrant zoo grounds served haven water birds deer occupying southern zoo grounds penned area deer addition flock sheep regularly maintained grass park meadows kept eastern flank near demolished dairy farmhouse interest gardens decade 19th century informal began shape prospect park newly appointed president donated young bears state followed donation white deer establishing pattern mainly donations animals rich prominent individuals grew observer noted seven seals arrived buffalo estate red bears sacred cow white deer red deer seven seals animals kept situated zoo present location near sheep northeast original facilities park deer located near present converted meadow deer moved new wild pond remained located east park low area forming northern zoo continued animals decades 20th century generally donated prominent individuals institutions formed varied collection specimens native north_america regions world modern zoo creation assuming office january new_york_city mayor tapped head newly unified moses soon prepared extensive plans reconstruct city parks existing facilities create new swimming pools parks moses acquired substantial later funding soon embarked year city wide construction program relieving high unemployment new_york_city depression year plans new prepared announced march area deer east park situated chosen site new zoo architect designed half circle brick buildings centered seal pool built red brick limestone trim buildings featured relief scenes jungle book executed total thirteen scenes walls zoo buildings sides brick entrance shelters avenue positioning makes accessible dedicated july buildings constituted integrated facility seen great improvement somewhat developed zoo featured extensive bear pit seal pool lion house current animals lives building elephant house current animal lifestyles building house birds animals world animals building completion new zoo dairy farmhouse sheep demolished sheep flock replaced mechanical site old allowed revert forest land decline years zoo served showcase large animals far away places appealing sense wonder estimated million people visited annually prior world war attendance gradually declined reaching half million early 1980s time facility showed signs deterioration writing late writer termed zoo new_york literal sense word seeing bear reported black vulture zoo earliest residents looking visitors walks celebrating 35th anniversary old cage decade later new_york_times reporter visiting zoo noted black bear lay rock short distance guard rail shattered wine bottle cracked stick number beer cans ground feet times seen bear lift foot leave bloody foot print said park supervisor prospect park zoo vandalism major problem deterioration overtaking repairs activists pressing major renovations zoo rated united_states worst country felt zoo keeping original design prospect park urged complete removal grounds fatal accident year old boy scaling fence polar bear pit served difficulties year old facility years conversations named signed year agreement april central prospect queens administered society specific plans seven years making late summer million half year renovation plan forth coordinate venue facilities avoid redundant programming slated children programs house smaller animal species renovation zoo closed public june months new homes found displaced animals demolition managed began june commencing nearly year million effort initial estimates years million buildings preserved badly deteriorated interiors pits demolished new structures built facilities turned april months needed zoo prepare exhibits ready facility public zoo opened october hoped new suggest far mere zoo facility designed preserve animal species change coincided renaming society programs new center geared children classrooms discovery center housed dedicated building north wing zoo exhibits housed smaller species elephants tigers lions augmented displays interactive exhibits public continued facility ensuing thirteen years old quietly stuck literature new budget issues supports combination private funds subsidies city vulnerable funding april mayor published budget proposal fiscal year beginning july cuts help close overall billion budget deficit mayor proposed cut city funding trim funding smallest facilities managed lowest annual attendance rates approximately threatened zoo contrast boasted annual attendance million enjoyed million visitors annually months fate hung city executive branch city_council compromise budget number items budget zoo remained visible anticipated losses middle june city_council speaker visited zoo press conference outlined pragmatic consequences closure savings estimated city million facilities offset estimated expenditure million facilities short notice find homes displaced animals estimates correct reasoning went cheaper run shut start new fiscal year july approved budget restored reduced funding level affected facilities prospect park open close classroom based programs lay supporting time instructors double admission fees funding levels restored city budget vulnerability remain opening months faced prospect losing fiscal year funding citing concerning reported proposed cuts involve cut board include line workers sales positions include union positions people visited drop level shown steady increase people visiting
Prospect Park Zoo