PEORIA -- I was initially skeptical about the Africa! exhibit at the Peoria Park District's Glen Oak Zoo.
I had always liked the zoo -- a small scale entertainment just right for a visiting grandchild.
Yes, I know zoos are bad news for the animals within, which should be wild. But they do live comfortable lives and serve as representatives for their species to educate the public to care about them.
Nevertheless, a $33 million Africa exhibit seemed too big, too expensive, and it destroyed a large section of native forest surrounding the zoo.
Even worse, it was a project initially conceived by Peoria's wealthy elite -- who knows why -- then they couldn't raise enough money to pay for it. So the taxpayers got stuck with $5 million of the cost.
Still -- a recent visit to the restructured zoo with a 7-year-old proved to be fun. The zoo has not expanded its size much, despite the Africa! exhibit. It takes an hour or two to see everything, if not read every sign -- just about right for a child or adult.
The rhinos are the new stars of the zoo. They're young and continually engage in play-fighting or wallowing in the mud.
The tall boardwalk around the Africa! exhibit also, interestingly enough, gives a bird's eye view into the remaining native forest.
A fairly nice snack bar/restaurant has been added, with inexpensive food that kids like.
You can eat outside under a shelter and watch the rhinos.
A downside: the zoo is expensive. The cost for two seniors and a child was nearly $20, plus lunch -- almost $20 -- a substantial investment for a few hours of entertainment. And getting the grandchild out of the gift shop without a purchase there proved difficult.
The visitors at the zoo reflected the cost: mostly white, middle class adults with children. Nobody looked poor, and there were very few minorities present.
The zoo might consider a free day at least once monthly, so that everyone can enjoy the zoo without blowing the budget. It's worth seeing.
-- Elaine Hopkins
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