An aquarium in Fresno? No, not that one. Aquatic life part of Chaffee Zoo’s master plan
Fresno Chaffee Zoo leaders have ambitious dreams for future expansion, including adding more parking and new educational opportunities focusing on California’s native wildlife and ecosystems.
The zoo’s master plan also includes a concept for an attraction Fresnans have long waited for — an aquarium.
Zoo Director Jon Forrest Dohlin released a master plan document that outlines the zoo’s values and its leaders’ vision for the next 15 years.
“One of the things that we want to do, and this gets back to the whole mission statement,” Dohlin said, “is create the sense of community, create a sense of place, create a sense of identity for the Fresno Chaffee Zoo that says, ‘We are here celebrating our place, as in the Central Valley, but also as the gateway to the parks and a gateway to the coast.”
Zoo leadership recently completed the zoo’s master plan, strategic plan and business plan, so timelines and price tags for the master plan ideas aren’t quite nailed down, said Terry Skoda, the zoo’s chief development officer. Once those details are fleshed out, zoo officials will share them.
Fresno County voters earlier this year renewed the Measure Z tax, which supports zoo operations, maintenance, and education programs and keeps entrance fees low. The tax generates an estimated $15 million annually. Many of the capital projects in the zoo’s master plan would be paid for with Measure Z money, with the exception of potential parking garages.
Aquarium
Zoo leaders say their “Pacific Rim Aquarium” would feature aquatic life, coral reefs, and kelp forests found on California’s central coast. The zoo’s aquarium vision includes a deep-sea virtual reality tour, tide pools, and the beloved, interactive sting ray petting experience.
The zoo’s aquarium proposal should not be confused with the much-anticipated — and still incomplete — Aquarius Aquarium promised for many years to north Fresno near Highway 99 and Herndon Avenue.
Councilmember Mike Karbassi, who represents northwest Fresno where the Aquarius Aquarium land is located, said he’d like to see Aquarius Aquarium and Fresno Chaffee Zoo partner on an aquarium concept. Dohlin said he’s open to any idea that would make an aquarium a reality for Fresnans.
Parking
Parking at the zoo remains visitors’ top complaint, Dohlin said.
The zoo shares parking with the city’s Roeding Park. On a busy day, it could take 20 minutes to find a parking spot, Dohlin said.
The master plan presentation included examples of other zoo parking garages with facades of live plants or other natural elements incorporated into the design.
“We think maximizing the capacity while minimizing the footprint that parking takes up will be the best answer for our beloved Roeding Park and for the zoo itself,” Dohlin said. “We value very much our placement and our role in Roeding in our desire to protect that beautiful place.”
Dohlin reassured the city council that Measure Z money would not be used to build the parking garages.
Valley farm
A big theme in the zoo’s master plan is celebrating California’s natural habitats and wildlife, especially places in and near the central San Joaquin Valley, such as the Sierra Nevada mountain range and the central coast.
The zoo also wants to recognize the valley’s rich agricultural roots by upgrading its Valley Farm exhibit. The plan features additions of “nature play” areas for children in environments such as a wetland, forest, farm and a typical valley backyard.
“We know that the data shows, again and again, children learn best and deepest when they are engaged in imaginative, unmediated play in nature,” Dohlin said.
The farm would also help children learn how their food is grown or produced by animals at an early age.
Dohlin called the overall master plan “aggressive” in terms of expansion and growth. He said the zoo hopes to open a new capital project every two or three years. The zoo’s centennial anniversary is in 2029, and he’d like to see a good chunk of the master plan realized by then.
The zoo currently sees about 875,0000 visitors annually, and Dohlin said he anticipates that number will quickly grow to 1.3 or 1.4 million by the time the zoo reaches its 100-year anniversary. About 40% of the zoo’s current visitors are from outside a 100-mile radius, meaning the zoo is attracting visitors from outside the valley. Dohlin said more outside visitors are anticipated as the zoo continues adding new exhibits.
This story was originally published October 28, 2022 at 5:30 AM.