3 ANALYSIS AND POTENTIALS - ASLA Colorado
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3 ANALYSIS AND POTENTIALS
ZOO HISTORY
In its 49th year, BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo Zoo’s first elephants and their parents echoed
finds itself on the cusp of a new beginning. that support by passing a millage providing
This exciting rebirth will propel the Zoo into over three-quarters of a million dollars. The
the future, yet retain a core commitment to U.S. Department of Interior agreed to provide
connect people with animals and inspire in matching funds, and the Commission hired its
them a deep respect for nature. first Zoo Director, George Felton.
The history of the Baton Rouge Zoo Over the past 49 years, the Zoo has served
reflects an institution closely connected to the six generations of East Baton Rouge Parish
community it serves. Since 1964, when BREC residents. As the Zoo strives to best serve
began to seek funds to build a major zoo, the next six generations, it continues to fulfill
citizens of the Baton Rouge metropolitan area its mission to connect people with wildlife
have affirmed their support. and wild places, and provide a quality zoo
Baton Rouge’s historical support for a experience to the citizens who support it.
community zoo dates back even further, to the The following history of the Baton Rouge
1930s, with a collection of animals displayed Zoo shows how a foundation laid five decades
in City Park. In the early sixties, local children ago can help bring a new Zoo into fruition:
emptied their piggy banks to help purchase the
18 | BATON ROUGE ZOO MASTER PLAN
a
1970 On Easter Sunday, the Zoo opened its doors to the
public, and visitors have been streaming in ever since.
1977 The Zoo became the first in Louisiana to be
accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
(AZA). Throughout the 1970s, the Zoo continued
to add exhibits and expand its animal collection.
Implementation of an Education Program in 1978
emphasized the Zoo’s commitment to its mission of
education.
1986 The Zoo purchased a train and laid tracks for
the popular Cypress Bayou Railroad. The eighties also
saw the formation of a support organization, Friends of
the Baton Rouge Zoo (FOZ), that continues to provide
a wealth of time and talent in support of the Zoo. The
opening of the KidsZoo in 1989 provided a place for
children to experience farm animals in an interactive
environment.
1991 The nineties saw an acceleration of growth
in both the physical structure of the Zoo, and in
its commitment to conservation. In 1991, a new
Administration Building housing offices for the Zoo
Director, department heads and curators was built.
1992 The Zoo’s commitment to conservation
gained national recognition in the nineties with the
construction of a waste water treatment facility. The
unique system handles a daily load of up to 400,000
gallons of water that is processed and reused
in designated zoo areas. Also, the opening of an
Amphitheater realized the Zoo’s goal to accommodate
larger groups for its education programs. The FOZ
provided a grant to develop a Master Plan for the Zoo
which has been continually reviewed and updated.
1995 The Commission hired its second Director, Paul
Price, when George Felton retired after 25 years.
1998 The Commission hired the Zoo’s third, and
current, Director, Phil Frost. He immediately realized
the need for a department to focus on the comfort of
zoo guests. The George Felton, Jr. Veterinary Hospital
also opened on the Zoo grounds and ensured state-of-
the-art veterinary care for the animals. It enhanced the
relationship between the Zoo and the LSU Veterinary
School, which have worked closely over the years
conducting research and behavioral studies on several
species (In 2006, the Commission formalized this
relationship with a Veterinary Training Agreement).
19
1999 The Guest Services Department was created to oversee visitor amenities. The Hibernia Pavilion, now the Capital One Pavilion, opened and provided a venue for the new department to host picnics, family reunions, and special events. L’aquarium de Louisiane and Parrot Paradise also both opened with much fanfare. 2000 The new millennium began with the renovation of the Spectacled Bear exhibit, and continued with the completion of the second phase of the South American Cloud Forest and the opening of a quintessential Louisiana exhibit, The Otter Cabin. The growth of the Zoo’s Education Department required a move to its own office building next to the Education Classroom. 2005 A generous grant from the Greater Baton Rouge State Fair Association allowed the Zoo to open the Safari Playground. The grant also funded new animal identification signage throughout the Zoo. Flamingo Cove and Land of the Giants, featuring Galapagos and Aldabra tortoises, also opened. 2007 The BREC Commission authorized the Zoo to hire a Horticulture Manager to design and oversee the Zoo’s botanical component. The Zoo became the first in Louisiana to hold “Dreamnight at the Zoo,” an after-hours experience for pediatric cancer patients and their families. This event occurs at zoos around the world on the first Friday in June. 2008 The Zoo’s most extensive renovation to date began with construction of Conservation Plaza, anchored by a 4,000 lb. granite globe water feature. Also at this time, visitor amenities were addressed including new climate controlled restrooms, and renovations to the admissions area, train depot, and concession areas. Antiquated chain link fencing was removed throughout the Zoo and replaced with natural barriers. 2010 Realm of the Tiger opened. The Zoo’s big cat exhibit had been razed to the ground and species of its cat collection sent to AZA facilities for housing during construction. Realm of the Tiger is an immersion experience in the culture of Asia and features Malayan and Sumatran tigers, Siamang gibbons, and an open- air aviary. In November, the Zoo ushered in a new family holiday event with the advent of ZooLights. After-hours visitors follow a path through the Zoo lit by larger than life displays featuring Zoo animals and holiday themes. Local artists enter to have paintings and drawings displayed at Art Gone Wild during the popular event. 20 | BATON ROUGE ZOO MASTER PLAN
a
2013 The donation of a giraffe sculpture by a local
Zoo supporter became the impetus for Giraffe Circle,
an esthetically pleasing shaded area for guests to
gather. FOZ provided funding for the project which
transformed a nondescript area near the giraffe exhibit
into a tranquil park setting centered by the refurbished
sculpture and featuring a stamped walkway
surrounded by landscaping.
2014 Dedication of the Atchafalaya Basin air boat
offered visitors the opportunity to “ride” an authentic
air boat like those used on Louisiana’s many bayous.
Donated by an FOZ Board member, it was refurbished
for its permanent dock on the Atchafalaya Basin
boardwalk. In October, FOZ held its first Brew at the
Zoo fundraising event. This after-hours beer tasting
features local craft beer brewers, caterers, and musical
entertainment.
2018 The Zoo was denied accreditation by the AZA,
largely due to outdated exhibits and deteriorated
infrastructure. BREC initiated a national search for firms
specializing in zoological design to create a new master
plan for the Zoo. After awarding the project to Torre
Design Consortium, Ltd. of New Orleans, the master plan
design process began in November.
2019 The final master plan design and report were
submitted to the BREC Board of Commissioners in
September for approval.
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60 MIN.
30 MIN.
20 MIN.
10 MIN.
ACCESS AND DRIVE TIMES TO THE BATON ROUGE ZOO AND GREENWOOD PARK
TRAVELING TO THE ZOO must turn off of the main road, onto a two lane
residential roadway to get to the current Zoo entry.
While outside the scope of this master plan, what The fact that the Zoo and adjacent Greenwood Park
it “feels like” traveling to the Zoo plays a significant have two separate entries accessed by two different
role in the perceived value of the visitor experience. roads explains why so many participants at the
Zoo traffic today is primarily from the southeast, public meetings said they had visited the Zoo but
via I-110, I-10, and I-12. Access is visually acceptable didn’t know where the park was. This touches on
until reaching Hwy19/ Scotland Ave. The roadway, a significant issue facing the Zoo today: its lack of
which is paralleled by train tracks and numerous visibility and community access. As a result, there
industrial facilities, has no armature of planting to is no real connection between the two facilities,
buffer views and create an inviting experience. It is missing potential opportunities of mutual benefit.
a recommendation of this master plan that LaDOTD The existing Zoo entry is modest, but contains
be engaged in planning streetscape improvements adequate parking with 224 spaces and an adjacent
including tree plantings. field for overflow parking, creating a total of nearly
At the Thomas Road intersection, Zoo guests 700 spaces.
22 | BATON ROUGE ZOO MASTER PLAN
IMAGE CREDIT: SASAKI
GREENWOOD PARK / ZOO CONTEXT acreage, and low-density residential. North and
east of the park is mostly low-density single family
BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo is located within residential. The western edge of the park is bounded
Greenwood Community Park in the extreme by LA State Highway19, which is paralleled by a
northern limits of the City of Baton Rouge. The Canadian Northern rail line. To the west, across
park’s northern edge is bounded by Lavey Lane, a Hwy 19, lies a 400 acre wetland mitigation bank
two-lane highway which serves as the boundary and an industrial park. Immediately south of the
between the City of Baker to its north and the City of industrial park is an Exxon plastics plant. Cypress
Baton Rouge to its south. The park is not physically Bayou meanders through the site, as do two smaller
well integrated into either city due to its surrounding tributaries, flowing southward through the existing
land uses: heavy industrial and undeveloped 14 acre lake in the park.
23
EXISTING CONDITIONS 33. Zoo entry 66. Entry bridge at Cypress Bayou
11. Zoo entry off Thomas Road 44. Ticketing counters 77. Walkway through zoo
22. 224 space paved parking lot 55. Typical zoo exhibit 88. “Realm of the Tiger” exhibit
1 2
3 4
THE ZOO TODAY a nature center than a modern zoo where guest
services, administration, education, food and fun are
The Baton Rouge Zoo represents a site with high introduced to the guest. A zoo train can be boarded
potential. Unfortunately, it has not been able to prior to crossing the bridge over Cypress Bayou
continue to build to modern zoological standards, to finally begin the Zoo experience. One problem
nor establish a high attraction value, due to lack with the train ride, however, is that its airlocks to
of funding. Zoo staff have done an excellent job the 8 foot high AZA perimeter security fence do not
managing older facilities and have created the best function, allowing the potential for uncontrolled
conditions possible for both the animal collection access to the Zoo by people and animals.
and the guests. Unfortunately, the animal exhibits are showing
The site is blessed with a substantial tree their age and offer little modern attraction value,
canopy, predominantly lowland hardwoods, with with the exception of the newer “Realm of the Tiger”
pines, magnolia and cypress, which provide shade exhibit in Asia and the “L’aquarium de Louisiane”
and a forest-like setting for Zoo guests. The entry and “The Otter Pond” in the Atchafalaya Basin.
experience and structure are modest and more like The Zoo has done a great job with “behind the
24 | BATON ROUGE ZOO MASTER PLAN
5 6
7 8
scenes” special encounters to get guests closer to occasions, but without climate control and adequate
nature and to teach the importance of conservation. weather protection, it has had difficulty ensuring
This is a very positive way to engage the public while that the needs of those events can be dependably
building the perceived value of the Baton Rouge Zoo met. As result, the rental opportunities at the Zoo
as a major regional institution involved in education, have not been optimal.
advocacy and global conservation. The Baton Rouge Zoo is a sleeping giant. With a
A lack of climate controlled facilities within the proper Master Plan and modern new exhibits and
Zoo presents another major challenge, forcing guest facilities, the Zoo will be reinvented into one of
guests to deal with the heat of summer, frequent Baton Rouge’s most treasured assets.
rains, and cold winter days. Aside from the impact
this lack of facilities has on the guest experience,
it also directly affects the Zoo’s ability to rent out
spaces for private events. For example, the picnic
pavilion, or “Capital One Pavilion”, has had some
success as a rental venue for weddings and other
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EXISTING CONDITIONS 33. Zoo Run Run 5k 66. Behind-the-scenes encounter
11. Typical exhibit graphic 44. Zoo Camps participants 77. Safari Playground
22. Daytime event in the pavilion 55. Gift shop in the Entry Building 88. Flamingo Cafe
1 2
3 4
GUEST EXPERIENCE impact and positive public reception but are still
featured within a zoo that, over the years, has not
Zoo staff and leadership have done a great job received capital investments comparable to zoos
making guests feel welcome in an older facility that similar in size.
lacks modern amenities such as contemporary The site layout, tree canopy, and the creation of
food and service facilities, and provides little respite new exhibits and guest facilities are all foundational
from the summer heat. Staff also provide the best to ensuring the Baton Rouge Zoo reaches its full
possible animal care and management, even with potential. New modern facilities will allow the Zoo
aging facilities that are difficult to operate. In spite staff to perform their duties more effectively and
of these challenges, the overall guest experience is efficiently than they are currently able with older,
a positive one, lacking only the excitement of new inefficient facilities. The visitor experience will
exhibits and facilities on par with other modern zoos. also be greatly enhanced by the creation of more
Programs like the Boo at the Zoo, Zippity Zoo engaging exhibits and adequate amenities for the
Fest, Zoo Run Run 5k, Brew at the Zoo, ZooLights, comfort of guests.
Zoo Camps, Safari Night and others have had great
26 | BATON ROUGE ZOO MASTER PLAN5 6
7 8
PARKING
The existing Zoo parking is comprised of three
modules. The first is the primary paved lot, with
a capacity of 224 spaces. The second and third
modules are grass fields east and west of the
paved lot. Their capacities are 330 spaces and 175
spaces, respectively, bringing the total number of
parking spaces to 776. Zoo staff have said that for
peak events or on peak visitation days, Thomas
Road is overwhelmed by traffic to the parking
lot, creating a potentially dangerous condition for
both neighborhood residents and Zoo guests as
emergency vehicles would have difficulty accessing
the site due to traffic congestion.
27CIRCULATION
Circulation within the existing Zoo is confusing
due to its 50 year old layout; there is no logical
hierarchy to the circulation system. Existing
walkways do not cue the guest how to get to and
through exhibits and other visitor service facilities.
The paths are substantially wide, which is normally
a positive, but they are all similar in width, creating
confusion as to where one exhibit ends and another
begins. These paths double as service roads, which
is not desirable for the guest experience. Exhibits
are not properly connected in a holistic way that tells
a comprehensive story about the continents, biomes,
animals, and impacts of humankind. The Asia and
Atchafalaya exhibits provide good beginnings of
comprehensive future exhibits.
The map to the right shows the current layout
of the zoo, which explains why so many guests get
lost and can’t find the exhibits that they want to
visit. A modern loop system with a clear hierarchy
of primary and secondary paths connecting holistic
exhibits would greatly help to create a more
intuitive and immersive experience.
By physical layout, a guest parked in the
southernmost parking spaces can walk over 1,200
linear feet before crossing the long entry bridge to
the World Plaza and Asia Exhibit, a distance which EXISTING CIRCULATION
is too far to be acceptable or convenient.
WAYFINDING AND INTERPRETIVE
GRAPHICS
The present wayfinding experience starts at the
arrival plaza and its granite globe, after crossing
the Cypress Bayou bridge. The next experience
is Asia, a newer exhibit. Thereafter, wayfinding is
difficult due to the circulation layout of the Zoo. The
lack of a clear primary path loop that brings guests
to “portals” of cohesive exhibit experiences causes
guests to often spend time trying to understand
where they are in the Zoo, many times backtracking
to exhibits they missed. The newer exhibits,
however, are of good quality, with signage featuring
the cost effective laminate systems that most
modern zoos use today.
New and modern interpretive graphics will
fully immerse guests in the exhibit experience,
and tell complete stories about ecology, biology,
history, art, culture, and their roles in conservation.
Future wayfinding and interpretive graphics should
contribute to a truly immersive zoo experience.
EXISTING SIGNAGE IS FUN BUT DOESN’T DIRECT GUESTS
28 | BATON ROUGE ZOO MASTER PLANN
W E
S
Africa
ASIA
Atchafalaya
Basin
South Activities
America Giraffe Chat
Map Key 10:30am (Daily)
Otter Chat
Food AT THE OTTER POND
11:00 & 3:00 (Daily)
Restrooms
Pelican Feeding
Beverages 1:30pm (Daily)
Drinking Fountains
Black Rhino Chat
2:30pm (Daily)
Vending Machine
Wildlife
Ice Cream Safari Theatre
AT THE AMPHITHEATRE
Fish Feeding Stations
11:30, 1:30 & 3:30
Weekends only
Automated ENTRANCE
Running
Automatic of the Ducks
Teller Machine AT THE KIDSZOO
One hour before Zoo
Train Route Please, NO SMOKING. The Baton Rouge Zoo is a smoke-free environment. grounds close (Daily)
CURRENT MAP OF THE ZOO
GRANITE GLOBE IN EXISTING WELCOME PLAZA EFFECTIVE, MODERN ZOO GRAPHICS AT ASIA’S ENTRY PORTAL
29GROSS ZOO ACREAGE NET ZOO ACREAGE
The Zoo boundary presently includes 147 acres, The actual developed acreage of the Baton
divided by east Cypress Bayou into two portions. Rouge Zoo for exhibits and guest experience
The northern portion of roughly 103 acres lies is 59 acres. Another 13 acres is occupied by
between the east and west branches of Cypress required buffers, parking, and service facilities,
Bayou, north of their confluence. This portion all fundamental to proper zoo operations. The
contains the Zoo itself, as well as 44 acres of off remaining 75 acres, unseen by guests, contain
exhibit holding and related facilities, including 28 acres of off exhibit holding and large tracts of
animal health and hospital. undeveloped acreage.
The southern portion of 44 acres lies south and There is potential to reduce the Zoo’s net
east of Cypress Bayou and contains the existing acreage and allow BREC services to develop a
entry complex, a portion of the train ride and track, regional service facility off Thomas Road, relieving
parking, overflow parking, training areas, and a the center of Greenwood Park from service vehicle
community buffer. traffic. This would further improve circulation and
Typical to zoo planning five decades ago, zoo parking for both the Zoo and Greenwood Park.
administration is located as far from the entry In coordination with the Greenwood Park
complex as possible, which is something that plan, opportunities to connect the Zoo with other
modern zoos have radically changed. Today, proposed park improvements were explored.
administration is part of a unified entry experience Knowing that the Zoo would continue to be the
to better serve guests and disseminate the critical major source of attendance at the park, providing
conservation messaging that is needed to create adequate access and parking would be crucial to
positive change. the success of both facilities.
30 | BATON ROUGE ZOO MASTER PLANYou can also read
