John Ball Park

Infobox zoo
zoo_name=John Ball Zoological Garden
logo=JohnBallZooLogo.gif
logo_width=250


image_caption=
location=Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
area= convert|140|acre|km2|sing=on
coordinates= coord|42|57|46.02|N|85|42|17.24|W
num_animals=1183
num_species=237
date_opened=1891 City commission records provide the first mention of animals at the park.cite web | title = History Of The Zoo | publisher =Kent County, Michigan | work = accessKent | url = http://www.accesskent.com/CultureLeisureAndTransit/Zoo/zoo_history.htm|accessdate = 2007-05-15]
members=AZA John Ball Zoo became the first zoo in Michigan to receive accreditation.
website=http://www.johnballzoosociety.org/

John Ball Zoological Garden is an urban park located on the west side of the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. The John Ball Zoo is situated on the ravines and bluffs along the west edge of the park.

The zoo houses a variety of animals from around the world and is a significant regional attraction. With the Zoo School and Wildlife Conservation Fund the zoo gives something back to the community and world as a whole.

History

Early History

The original 40 acres of the park was donated to the city by noted pioneer and explorer John Ball upon his death in 1884. Shortly after, another convert|100|acre|km2 would be added and this marked the beginning of additional amenities, including ponds, a theater, a band shell, playgrounds, ballfields, trails and the zoo. In 1891 a debate happen if city money should be used to purchase more animals to add to the existing wounded and orphaned animals at the park.

During the Great Depression, the Zoo fell on hard times. Most of the collection was given away to other zoos. The buffalo and deer were butchered to help feed the poor. Only a few aging animals remained.

Rebirth of the Zoo

During 1949, Katherine Whinery approached the mayor of Grand Rapids about resurrecting the zoo by forming a Zoo Society. A deal was formed that if a zoo society could be formed, the city would hire a Zoo Director to run the zoo. Fred Meyer was hired as the first director of the zoo. Also the monkey island exhibit was built during that year. During the 50-60s John Ball Zoo was built in the hills of the park.

Recent History

The John Ball Park and Zoo were operated by the City of Grand Rapids until 1989, when the park, known as a regional asset because of the zoo, was sold to Kent County. Kent County continues to operate and maintain the park and zoo.

During the 1990s the zoo expanded with the building of Living Shores Aquarium and new cafe eating area outside of it. Also done at the same time was a new Bald Eagle Aviary. The Mokomboso Valley Chimpanzee Exhibit opened in 2001.

From 2000-2003 controversy arose over idea of moving the zoo further in to the flatlands of the park for an Elephant exhibit. It pitted the Zoo/Zoo Society against the neighbors of the park. The neighbors tried to get city of Grand Rapids to designate the whole Zoo and Park as an historical site as one way to stop the further development of the zoo. In order to stop the arguing Fred Meijer offered to donate land and money if the Zoo would move. [http://www.skyview.iserv.net/newsroomarchive00.html see Monday June 26] [cite web | title = Kent County Board of Commissioners minutes | date = December 13, 2001 | publisher = Kent County, Michigan |url = http://www.accesskent.com/YourGovernment/BOC/minutes/2001/BOC121301.pdf | format = PDF | accessdate = 2007-05-15]

In 2004, a ballot was put forward to voters in Kent County to relocate the John Ball Zoological Gardens; the referendum was defeated, and the zoo will remain at its current location for the foreseeable future.In 2005, a new 75 - 100 million dollar master plan for the zoo was made involving all convert|140|acre|km2 of the zoo and park. Besides the existing Camels, African Veldt, Chimps, Petting Zoo, and Animal Hospital exhibits, it reworks the whole zoo. [cite web | title = John Ball Zoo: Vision Plan 2005 | publisher = Kent County, Michigan |work = accessKent | url = http://www.accesskent.com/CultureLeisureAndTransit/Zoo/pdfs/2005_Vision_Plan.pdf | format = PDF | accessdate = 2007-05-15 ] The new plan for the zoo features a system of streams named "Grand Rivers of the World" that would connect the zoo to the park surrounding the zoo. [cite news | last = King| first = Kyla| title = The zoo of the future? County Plan would Give John Ball Animals Room to Roam| pages = A1-A2| publisher = Grand Rapids Press| date = 2005-08-02| url = http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/| accessdate = 2007-05-18]

On April 27, 2007 the zoo broke ground on the first phase of the new master plan, starting construction of an 4.1 million dollar 1/3 acre "BISSELL Lions of Lake Manyara" exhibit. The zoo has not had a lion since the last lion "Gilda" died of old age in 2005. The exhibit will be built for 6 lions, but only 3 lions will be placed in the exhibit. [cite web | title = John Ball lion exhibit gets OK | publisher = Grand Rapids Press | date = April 18, 2007 | url = http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-35/1176907996180810.xml&coll=6 | accessdate = 2007-05-15] [cite web | title = Lions return to John Ball Zoo in forest exhibit | publisher = The Muskegon Chronicle | date = April 14, 2007 | url = http://blog.mlive.com/chronicle/2007/04/lions_return_to_john_ball_zoo.html | accessdate = 2007-05-15 ]

On June 14, 2008 The new "green" [cite news|publisher=John Ball Zoological Society Zoo News|title=Lions of Lake Manyara built to conserve|pages=13|date=Winter 2008|accessdate=2008-03-31] lion exhibit will open to the public. [cite news|publisher=John Ball Zoological Society Zoo News|title=From the Executive Director|pages=3|date=Winter 2008|accessdate=2008-03-31]

Animal Collection

Most animals at John Ball Zoo were born in another zoo. Few of the animals are taken from the wild. Almost all the wild animals are at the zoo because they sustained injuries and can no longer live in their natural habitat.cite web| title= Animals at the Zoo | publisher = Kent County, Michigan | work = accessKent | url = http://www.accesskent.com/CultureLeisureAndTransit/Zoo/zoo_animal.htm | accessdate=2007-05-19]

The zoo added to it animal collection in 2004 a Komodo Dragon named Precious. He is convert|7|ft|m long, is a fierce carnivore with razor sharp teeth and killer saliva. Precious is on exhibit outside the Treasure of the Tropics building during summer, and inside during the fall, winter, and spring.

During 2005 the zoo created an Australian walk though exhibit that featured Wallabies and Budgies. The wallabies if they want to, can come out in the walk way to be petted.

On May 9, 2007 the Otters had a baby boy. It first went out in the exhibit mid July. [cite news|publisher=John Ball Zoological Society Zoo News|title=It's a boy!|pages=11|date=Summer 2007|accessdate=2007-09-14]

Education and Conservation

Education

John Ball Zoo School is sixth grade only Magnet School for the Grand Rapids Public Schools. Each year sixty students are selected for the School. [cite web|title=Zoo School Mission and Enrollment Information|publisher=Grand Rapids Public Schools|url=http://web.grps.k12.mi.us/Secondary/zoo/Mission.html|accessdate = 2007-05-16] The school teaches the normal school subjects but with a specialization using the zoo as a lab.

Wildlife Conservation Fund

In 1985 a conservation fund was started by John Boyles. The fund pays special attention to native Michigan animals, but also has funded programs in support of endangered amphibians and reptiles. The Wildlife Conservation Fund has funded projects that helped conserve wildlife and habitats in 30 countries. [cite web | title = John Ball Zoo Society: Conservation | url = http://www.johnballzoosociety.org/conservation.php | publisher = John Ball Zoo Society | accessdate = 2007-05-16]

References

External links

* [http://www.johnballzoosociety.org/ John Ball Zoo Society website]
* [http://www.accesskent.com/CultureLeisureAndTransit/Zoo/zoo_index.htm Kent County John Ball Zoo website]
* [http://web.grps.k12.mi.us/Secondary/zoo/default.html John Ball Zoo School website]