Dianne Hardisty, the editorial page editor of the Bakersfield Californian, wrote a first-person piece titled "Zoo may just be second happiest place on Earth."
She talks about changes in the zoo from when she first discovered it when her son was a toddler to now, when she returned for a recent visit with her two grandchildren:
"While Measure Z money is tied up awaiting the development of a master plan, which will expand the zoo from 18 to 39 acres, donations and tax dollars already are being invested to spruce up many exhibits.Today's Chaffee Zoo features about 125 species in a beautiful parklike setting. Animals are set back from visitors in clean, attractive habitats. But the zoo has not lost its personal feel. There are many unique opportunities for visitors even tiny ones to touch and feed animals."
I agree with Hardisty. Kids love the zoo, and especially as our weather begins to cool a bit, it's fun to stroll through the mature trees that provide shade and visit the familiar exhibits as well as check out new features. As zoo leadership gets authorization to spend Measure Z money, it will only get better.
(Bee file photo: A tour group gets a close look as a stingray floats past. The Stingray Bay exhibit at the Chaffee Zoo has been extended to remain open on weekends through Jan. 4.)
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