Akron Zoological Park

WE CONNECT YOUR LIFE TO WILDLIFE WHILE INSPIRING LIFELONG LEARNING AND CONSERVATION ACTION.

HORTICULTURE & PRESERVATIONTHE MISSION OF THE HORTICULTURE AND PRESERVATION PROGRAM IS TO FOSTER A CONNECTION WITH WILDLIFE AND A DESIRE TO PROTECT WILD PLACES BY CREATING A POSITIVE GUEST EXPERIENCE. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH IMMERSIVE THEMING THROUGH LANDSCAPE PLANTS, HIGHLIGHTING THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PLANTS AND ANIMALS, AND THE DEMONSTRATION OF SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING PRACTICES. THE AKRON ZOO IS AN ACCREDITED PUBLIC GARDEN THROUGH THE AMERICAN PUBLIC GARDENS ASSOCIATION (APGA) AND MAINTAINS A WIDE COLLECTION OF UNIQUE PLANTS FOR DISPLAY AND EDUCATION PURPOSES. ALL LANDSCAPING AT THE ZOO IS DESIGNED TO INCLUDE NATIVE PLANT SPECIES, DROUGHT-TOLERANT SPECIES, HOST OR FOOD PLANTS FOR NATIVE WILDLIFE, AND OTHER ECOLOGICALLY-BENEFICIAL PLANTS. THE AKRON ZOO GARDENS INCLUDE A MONARCH WAYSTATION. AS CONSERVATORS OF WILDLIFE, THE AKRON ZOO DOES NOT INSTALL INVASIVE OR POTENTIALLY INVASIVE PLANTS.PROVIDED 365 DAYS OF FACILITY MAINTENANCE.

ANIMAL CAREFROM AFRICAN LIONS TO MICROSCOPIC CORAL, THE AKRON ZOO PROVIDES CARE TO OVER 3,500 ANIMALS REPRESENTING APPROXIMATELY 226 SPECIES. PARTICIPATION IN CONSERVATION PROGRAMS, (I.E. CORAL REEF RESTORATION, WHITE WING WOOD DUCK RESEARCH) AND SPECIES SURVIVAL PLANS IS AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF THE ANIMAL CARE PROGRAM. THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS, THE ZOO IS ACTIVELY SAVING WILDLIFE AND THEIR HABITATS, AS WELL AS TAKING A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ENDANGERED SPECIES (I.E. RED WOLF, NORTH AMERICAN SONGBIRDS, SNOW LEOPARDS).IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SPECIES SURVIVAL EFFORTS, THE ANIMAL CARE PROGRAM PROVIDES INDIVIDUALIZED HUSBANDRY, VETERINARY CARE, NUTRITION, ENRICHMENT, WELFARE AND TRAINING TO EACH ANIMAL.PROVIDED 365 DAYS OF ANIMAL CARE.

MEMBERSHIP AND GUEST SERVICES: THE AKRON ZOO'S MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANYONE TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE ZOO BY PURCHASING AN ANNUAL PASS. THERE ARE MULTIPLE OPTIONS FROM AN INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP TO A FAMILY DELUXE MEMBERSHIP TO ACCOMMODATE A RANGE OF FAMILY SIZES AND NEEDS. EACH MEMBERSHIP COMES WITH BENEFITS SUCH AS UNLIMITED FREE ADMISSION TO THE ZOO YEAR ROUND, FREE PARKING, DISCOUNTS ON PURCHASES IN THE GIFTSHOP, SPECIAL MEMBER ONLY EVENTS AND PREVIEWS OF NEW AREAS, DISCOUNTED ADMISSION TO OVER 150 ACCREDITED ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS NATIONWIDE, AND DISCOUNTS ON EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS LIKE BOO AT THE ZOO AND WILD LIGHTS. THE ZOO'S MEMBERSHIP HOUSEHOLDS TOTALS AROUND 14,000. THE ZOO'S GUEST SERVICES INCLUDE GUEST EXPERIENCES, FOOD SERVICE AND GIFT SHOP. THE ZOO WELCOMES GUESTS THROUGH OUR WELCOME CENTER WHERE GUESTS CAN PURCHASE ADMISSION AT OUR TICKET COUNTER BEFORE ENTERING THE ZOO. THROUGHOUT THE ZOO, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GUESTS TO ENJOY ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CAROUSEL AND TRAIN RIDES, PURCHASE CRACKERS TO FEED OUR GOATS OR EXPERIENCE VIRTUAL REALITY ON OUR VIRTUAL REALITY RIDE. ALL OF THESE ACTIVITIES GENERATE REVENUE TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS. OUR KOMODO KINGDOM CAFE PROVIDES FOOD OPTIONS YEAR ROUND TO GUESTS, WE ALSO HAVE MULTIPLE STANDS THROUGHOUT THE PARK THAT PROVIDE SEASONAL OFFERINGS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS AND SELECT SPECIAL EVENTS. IN TOTAL WE HAVE FIVE LOCATIONS WHERE GUESTS CAN PURCHASE FOOD AND BEVERAGES. THE GIFT SHOP OFFERS GUESTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REMEMBER THEIR VISIT WITH A SOUVENIR OR GIFT. THE MAIN SHOP IS IN THE WELCOME CENTER AND GUESTS EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP TO EXIT THE ZOO. THERE IS ALSO A CART JUST INSIDE THE ENTRANCE TO THE ZOO THAT OFFERS SCOOTER AND STROLLER RENTALS, AS WELL AS SOME SELECT ITEMS SUCH AS HATS AND SUNGLASSES.