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PostJul 21, 2022#26

^I think they'd have a better chance of getting a prop passed in the city if they made the thing free to all. As long as it's a ticketed attraction I don't see a need to drop tax dollars into it. They have other funding. No need for my help.

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PostJul 21, 2022#27

Maybe if it entailed developing the old Forest Park Hospital site they are just sitting on.

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PostJul 21, 2022#28

It's neat and all but it really should've focused almost exclusively on North American endangered animals. Much easier to care for in this environment and just as much of a need.

Really just a bone thrown Martha Fischer's way.

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PostJul 21, 2022#29

Name 5 species you recommend instead.  Smaller mammals can be cared for in smaller setting and are harder to contain with simple fencing.  Predators are costly to feed, and require additional containment.  The space is particularly suited to mixed herds of large ungulates as mentioned in the article.

Also the zoo is well established leader in the preservation of the Grevy's Zebra and Somali WIld Ass and they have been cared for here for a long time.

And remember its is a preserve but it is also an attraction and you need things people want to see.  A couple types of pronghorn and bighorn sheep isn't gonna cut it.

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PostJul 21, 2022#30

You can also take a short drive over to Lone Elk Park in Valley Park to see bison and elk if you're wanting to see more native animals.

St. Louis Zoo WildCare Park really does seem like it's going to be spectacular, so I really don't mean to complain or seem like I'm stuck on the issue, but a few predators would be absolutely incredible to see in a setting like this and you would think they would draw visitors. 

I do understand that you need a lot more elaborate fencing and protection in place if you're going to allow free-roaming big cats, bears, and such. Animal handlers may also not exactly love walking into an enclosure where it's not exactly obvious where the 400-plus-pound cats are. So I get it. 

Anyway, several years ago, I feel like I remember reading that the Zoo was considering an attraction for reptiles at the WildCare Park due to reptile overpopulation at the Reptile House in Forest Park. Has that plan been ditched? I know that they're still studying a pretty massive turtle population that exists at the park. 

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PostJun 14, 2024#31

St. Louis Zoo's WildCare Park projected to bring in over $660 million to St. Louis region
https://www.stlpr.org/economy-business/ ... d-10-years

This project still catches me by surprise. Not sure many people are understanding how big this park could be for St. Louis. The observation tower is flipping cool, views of St. Louis in the distance. Really has an opportunity to become part of the STL brand quick. 
Confluence > Sunflower Fields, > WildCare Park >"Lighthouse Development"?> Old Chain of Rocks Bridge

StL_Zoo_Safari.png (930.85KiB)

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PostJun 14, 2024#32

I've wanted to go to the confluence so many times, but it's always flooded when I try. 

As a native Kansan, the sunflower fields are pretty meh, if I'm being honest. The Columbia Bottoms area is gorgeous, however.  

And I'm in no way convinced that the Corps of Engineers is going to ever greenlight the lighthouse project. 

That said, this Zoo project, along with the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, are wonderful attractions for north county and north city. 

I hope we see even more come to the area, including that lighthouse project. 

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PostJun 16, 2024#33

Very excited for this project. Hope fully when this wraps zoo officials can pay, idk, a modicum of attention to the old FP Hospital site.

Also, this site isn’t anywhere near Ferguson.

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PostJun 17, 2024#34

It’s pretty much in & near Spanish lake literally by the Columbia bottom conservation area. I would think in the future Riverview/Columbia bottom rd will need to be widened if they are expecting that much of an economic impact


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PostJun 17, 2024#35

Has anyone ever been to a safari park here in the US that is roughly comparable to what is being built here? After a little researching Safari West in near Santa Rosa, California seems to be about the same size though definitely not in as urban a location. Was just wondering what the experiences were like and what it cost as well as if you thought it was worth it.

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PostJun 17, 2024#36

^ Admission being free here should almost make it worth it alone.

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PostJun 17, 2024#37

^ Free just for County residents, right? iirc there will be a charge for others, although I guess that may have changed.

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PostJun 17, 2024#38

It's my understanding that only county residents will get in free. City residents would be charged.

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PostJun 17, 2024#39

Do county residents have to pay at the Zoo?

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PostJun 17, 2024#40

As a County resident, that's my only gripe with this project.  It feels like it was approved 6 or 7 years ago, so it'll be about 10 years before we can even visit it.  My kids who were babies and toddlers when this was approved will be in middle school/high school when this thing finally opens.  Who knows if they'll even enjoy it that much.  Meanwhile, we keep paying taxes towards this thing with no benefit.  Although it's a cool concept, I doubt it'll be worth visiting more than 1 or 2 times a year.  I really wish County voters would have rejected this so the City and surrounding Counties would have been required to chip in.  It's very similar to the Zoo.  I wish it wasn't only the City and St. Louis County paying taxes on such a regional asset.

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PostJun 17, 2024#41

STLinCHI wrote:
Jun 17, 2024
Do county residents have to pay at the Zoo?
County residents will have free admission to both the zoo and the safari park as the county has a sales tax for both; city doesn't have the sales tax for the safari park so city residents will pay for that. 

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PostJun 19, 2024#42

STLrainbow wrote:
Jun 17, 2024
STLinCHI wrote:
Jun 17, 2024
Do county residents have to pay at the Zoo?
County residents will have free admission to both the zoo and the safari park as the county has a sales tax for both; city doesn't have the sales tax for the safari park so city residents will pay for that. 
county residents have free access to the zoo because its a free zoo.

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PostJun 19, 2024#43

^Well, they do pay taxes,  but yeah - anyone from anywhere can go to our zoo for free.  Has zero to do with the supporting taxing districts.  

I wonder if the zoo has had such a hard time starting the conversation with nearby counties on main zoo tax that they went for a different model this time. 

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PostOct 13, 2024#44

This one seemed to slip through the cracks - already decent bit of construction under way! Something tells me this one is going to be a big success

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAoRJwTs2dE/

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Post6:34 AM - Mar 02#45

addxb2 wrote:
4:04 PM - Mar 01
I feel like a moderate amount of pressure from the alderman, SLDC, Mayors office would get it moving.
They'd have to find donors first to develop any of the master plan for the southern tract.

Post6:36 AM - Mar 02#46

PlatinumBlues wrote:
1:44 AM - Mar 02
Yes it will be free to STL county residents & I forget if it’s free for city residents as well


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Just county residents, as far as I'm aware.

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Post1:21 PM - Mar 02#47

Weird

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Post3:35 PM - Mar 02#48

PeterXCV wrote:Weird
How is it funded?


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Post8:21 PM - Mar 02#49

gary kreie wrote:
3:35 PM - Mar 02
PeterXCV wrote:Weird
How is it funded?


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St. Louis County voters passed Proposition Z in 2018, a 1/8th of 1% (0.125%) sales tax designed specifically to fund the Saint Louis Zoo, including the development of the North County campus (WildCare Park).  This tax, which adds roughly 12 cents to a $100 purchase, enables free general admission for county residents to the new, expansive North County conservation and animal science center.

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Post4:31 AM - Mar 03#50

Early releases look like this place will be a big hit, looks awesome

In a dream world it would’ve been on Chouteau Island for absurd uniqueness or at Horseshoe Lake for proximity to Cahokia mounds or somewhere straddling the river but I think this north county site will be neat

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