 Admission and Fees Questions and Answers
I heard the Zoo will be charging admission, is this true?
Why is the Zoo charging admission?
When will the Zoo begin charging admission?
What will general admission charges be?
The general admission charge seems too expensive for me. Are there any other options?
If you cut the budget by 20% instead of charging admission, what would that mean for the animals and the visitor?
Why is the Zoo so expensive to run?
Couldn’t you just close the Zoo an extra day or two each week to save money?
What will the money collected go toward?
What improvements will I see in the Zoo once admissions are charged?
How did you decide what to charge?
I’m a member of the Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation, will I have to pay to get into the Zoo?
Did you consider closing the Zoo Café and Gift Shop to save money instead of implementing admissions?
Will I have to pay admission just to eat in the Café or browse the Gift Shop?
Why are we still seeing improvement projects around the Zoo if the budget is so tight?
Q: I heard the Zoo will be charging admission, is this true?
A: As per City of Eureka Council Resolution adopted August 5th, 2008 Sequoia Park Zoo began charging admission on August 29th, 2008. Fees are posted below. Please contact the Zoo Manager with questions at 441-4227.
Adults $4
Children $2 (ages 3-12 )
Seniors/Military $3 (ages 60+)
**$2 discount for City of Eureka citizens with proof of residency
Free * Children 2 and under
* Zoo Members
Dollar Days every Wednesday
Q: Why is the Zoo charging admission?
A: A general admission fee for Sequoia Park Zoo has been planned for the last 15 years and has actually been approved conceptually at least once by the Eureka City Council. We're pleased to have offered this cultural resource free for 100 years even as standards have risen forcing nearly every Zoo in the United States to charge admissions. The few remaining free Zoos are able to exist because of generous endowments or subsidies-- such as the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
Two years ago when we developed our Master and Strategic Plans, additional funding sources were identifed to enhance the sustainability and future growth plans for the Zoo. The most realistic way to offer Zoo visitors the quality experience they expect was determined to be an admissions charge.
Due to the severe budget crisis the City of Eureka is now facing, the Zoo, along with all other City departments, was requested to cut its budget by 20%. We identified two options to reduce our budget by the amount required by the City: close the barnyard or implement the admission fees. We believe that the more responsible course of action is to implement admission fees-- for animal care, fiscal responsibility and a quality visitor experience.
Q: When will the Zoo begin charging admission?
A: Beginning on August 29th, 2008.
Q: What will general admission charges be?
A: Adults $4
Children $2 (ages 3-12 )
Seniors/Military $3 (ages 60+)
**$2 discount for City of Eureka citizens with proof of residency
Free * Children 2 and under
* Zoo Members
Dollar Days every Wednesday
Q: The general admission charge seems too expensive for me. Are there any other options?
A: Visit us on Wednesday, when admission is only $1. Also, for visits after 4:30 pm each day, admission is waived. Remember, too, you can join the Foundation and get into the Zoo for free as often as you like for one year.
Q: If you cut the budget by 20% instead of charging admission, what would that mean for the animals and the visitor?
A: Cutting the Zoo budget by 20% would:
- Result in reductions in the quality of care and environment for the animals, including cutting animal care staff, vet care, animal food and enrichment, and enclosure improvements.
- Affect the broader community by reducing the number and quality of educational classes and community outreach programs offered, impacting the science project and research opportunities available to students K through college who are already hard-hit by education cutbacks.
- Make it difficult to meet the strict standards of care and services required to remain a facility accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Q: Why is the Zoo so expensive to run?
A: The Zoo's operational budget has been slowly increasing over the past several years, as basic costs rise and standards for animal care and welfare continue to change and grow. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation also has requirements for visitor amenities and educational opportunities to which we must adhere. But basically, the Zoo cares for a precious living collection and must provide food, veterinary services, quality living spaces, and highly specialized care for every one of its animal residents 365 days a year.
Q: Couldn’t you just close the Zoo an extra day or two each week to save money?
A: Our animals require care 7 days a week, regardless of whether the Zoo is open to the public that day. They require regular veterinary exams and 99% of all costs associated with their care are not optional and cannot be cut without impacting their well-being.
Q: What will the money collected go toward?
A: The money collected from general admissions will help fund the daily operation of the Zoo- currently an endeavor that costs the City's general fund over $600,000 annually. This includes staffing for specialized animal care, animal food and veterinary care, exhibit and facilities maintenance, classes and volunteer programs, utility bills, and minor upgrades to the zoo. It will not fund major improvements or exhibits, or guest services such as the Gift Shop or Cafe - these things are funded solely through the non-profit Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation.
Q: What improvements will I see in the Zoo once admissions are charged?
A: By charging a general admission, Sequoia Park Zoo will:
- Offer a more secure and safer zoo.
- Provide additional educational, volunteer and visitor services as well as greater staff accessibility to our visitors.
- Provide greater access to informational resources and staff.
- Help achieve our goal of a more sustainable zoo, allowing us to become less dependent on public funding.
- Help us to remain an AZA accredited facility.
- Deal more effectively with the rising costs we are all experiencing such as seen with gasoline and food.
Q: How did you decide what to charge?
A: A strategic business plan for Sequoia Park Zoo was conducted in 2006 that made recommendations for improving the visitor’s experience at the Zoo, including proposed admission charges. Once faced with the need to charge admissions, we then conducted an in depth study of the admissions rates for other local attractions and for zoos of similar size. Sequoia Park Zoo rates were determined by compiling all available information including that in the Strategic Business Plan. A day at the Zoo offers more value for a family than a trip to the movies—even a matinee!
Q: I’m a member of the Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation, will I have to pay to get into the Zoo?
A: Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation members receive free admission to the Sequoia Park Zoo, plus many other benefits such as free or discounted admission to Reciprocal Zoos across the country, discounts in the Zoo Gift Shop, on educational courses and event tickets, our quarterly newsletter Zoo Chatter and more. If you would like to join, click here.
Q: Did you consider closing the Zoo Café and Gift Shop to save money instead of implementing admissions?
A: The Zoo Café and Gift Shop are run by the Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the Sequoia Park Zoo. Closing these amenities would not save the City of Eureka any money or help the Zoo meet its 20% budget cuts, as the City or Eureka does not fund the Café or Gift Shop.
Q: Will I have to pay admission just to eat in the Café or browse the Gift Shop?
A: No. Cafe and Gift Shop patrons will still be able to access these services free of admission.
Q: Why are we still seeing improvement projects around the Zoo if the budget is so tight?
A: Improvements around the Zoo are necessary to maintain a safe environment for our animals, visitors and staff. Most of the improvements you see throughout the Zoo are funded by the non-profit Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation through private donations. The Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation’s primary purpose is to promote and stimulate interest in the SPZ, to support the development and operation of the zoo through fundraising and to educate the public toward a better understanding of all animal life. So, improvements you see are made possible through the generosity of individuals like yourselves, not the City of Eureka.
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