Zoo’s Second Tuesday admission price goes up

Re: Zoo’s Second Tuesday admission price goes up

If The Zoo wants visitors to spend more money while we're there, they should offer healthier food choices at reasonable prices like the neighboring Children's Museum. All The Zoo offers is complete junk food. And their junk food is overpriced!

"Phyllis"

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Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 10:59 AM

Re: Zoo’s Second Tuesday admission price goes up

We should stop coddling all these people who are out of work, out of money, and out of self esteem. If we give them a break on the zoo prices then they are gonna want help feeding their kids and family. Then they are gonna want help finding a job. Or they'll want some kind of help to get off living on the street. Where does it end? There is a reason tents are being erected in the Nevada desert. It is hoped that eventually these people will die off from malnutrition, disease or the weather and then we will no longer have these people as the lowest class in our culture.

"curmudgeon"

(email verified)

Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 04:53 PM

Re: Zoo’s Second Tuesday admission price goes up

The Zoo is very expensive. It costs $10.50 per adult and an adult is anyone over the age of 13; children between the ages of 3 and 13 are $7.50. Since taxpayers pay for the zoo, they should be able to afford to go to the zoo once a month without spending an arm and a leg for the privilege of doing so. As a working class family and taxpayers, we are happy to be able to enjoy -- at a price we can afford -- the reduced rate days and/or family membership opportunities at the Zoo, the Children's Museum, the OMSI, etc.

Having reduced rate admission days at Portland family attractions is a wonderful idea. It is a win-win situation for everyone, because almost invariably families will "splurge" on something else with the savings they gained on the reduced admission, whether it be a purchase at a zoo cafe or at the gift shop.

HOWEVER, I fail to understand why children under 3 are always free. They should pay something, perhaps $2.00 on regular admission days, $.50 on the reduced admission days. Most of these children under 3 are riding enormous strollers, which makes it incredibly unpleasant and sometimes downright dangerous, to visit some of the Portland attractions. If the Museum does not wish to nominally charge for children under 3, then a fee should be charged for the stroller or the zoo should only allow smaller strollers that are rented from the zoo. The OMSI, which also allows free admission to children under the age of 3, has become almost unbearable because of stroller congestion in the exhibits, including exhibits that are intended for older audiences. Trimet claims it is going to have to raise fares due to a shortage of revenues yet it allows children under 7 to ride for free with an adult. I have been in buses with families taking up four seats for the family, an extra seat for the shopping or diaper bag and aisle space for the stroller, all for one adult fare because all other passengers were under 7.

Charging a nominal free for children under 3 would help the zoo (and other attractions) contain costs and allow it to perhaps reduce its admission fees for adults (anyone over 13), so that more people can be able to afford to go to the zoo (and other attractions). At the risk of sounding like "Curmudgeon," this would also provide practice for new parents in Family Planning (aka "Financing Children 101"). If people cannot afford to pay $2.00 to take the baby (and usually the sibling, also under 3) to the zoo, how are they going to be able to subsidize the expenses of the child when he or she is older?

"Taxpayer"

(email verified)

Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 09:01 PM

Re: Zoo’s Second Tuesday admission price goes up

I went to the zoo recently and was amazed at the number of parking "cops" driving around in special vehicles looking for violators. Who pays for them and their overhead and overtime? I have never seen that many "real" Portland cops at one time except in dire emergencies.

Seems like overkill to me and an unnecessary expense, paid for by the taxpayers in some fashion.

Ever notice when the politicians want more taxes they threaten to lay off the "real" cops while these parking "cops" are never threatened.

I voted for the recent zoo bond, but I didn't know the zoo had all of that extra money for their fancy parking patrol monitors.

"Time for Zoo Personnel Reductions In the Parking Lot"

(email verified)

Fri, Jul 16, 2010 at 07:28 AM

Re: Zoo’s Second Tuesday admission price goes up

Yikes, there's some amazingly critical comments here! Most amazing is "Taxpayer" and his vendetta against 3-year-olds and their strollers.

I'll just say that I was at the Oregon Zoo last week and we had a wonderful time. The Great Northwest exhibit was terrific, as were the elephants (Packy is huge!), and the African exhibits.

Allen Nyhuis, Coauthor: America's Best Zoos

"Allen Nyhuis"

(email verified)

Sat, Jul 17, 2010 at 04:37 PM

Re: Zoo’s Second Tuesday admission price goes up

I think this sucks. I don't believe that they are losing money on their concessions. And, if they actually ARE, they should put more healthy options. If I wanted to feed myself or my kids burgers and fries, it won't be at the zoo where I'll be paying 500% the cost I could get at burgerville.

And for "curmudgeon", have some compassion for people, will ya? Who do you think you are?

"Unemployed hardworker"

(email verified)

Sun, Jul 18, 2010 at 07:49 PM