Credit: Elmwood Park Zoo.
The Elmwood Park Zoo will continue its expansion efforts after Montgomery County officials executed a lease that acquired acreage on the Norristown Farm Park grounds.
The action will permit the Norristown Zoological Society Inc., also known as the Elmwood Park Zoo, to use a historic property known as the circa 1802 Castner House to “promote education, conservation and community engagement,” according to a component of an authorized 35-year lease agreement between the county and Pennsylvania Department of Conservation, which administers the Norristown Farm Park. The Dec. 18 agreement stipulates the county will provide at least $100,000 in capital investments at the Norristown Farm Park.
“We are going to leave 99.9 percent of the building, as is,” said Elmwood Park Zoo CEO and Executive Director Al Zone. “We’re going to do some work on the grounds. We’re going to open up the building and talk about the … connectivity between us and the [Norristown] Farm Park.”
Zone also expressed intentions to host events and build a “greenhouse conservatory” next to the structure, which will foster education, sustainability and food growth opportunities for the community.
Zone expressed his gratitude to county commissioners for their ongoing support and partnership with state entities to provide space for the zoo to grow.
“The master lease was the bigger part of that, and getting through that is where, why we’re here today. It’s been great. It’s been a long effort,” Zone said, adding “I can’t thank you guys enough for your involvement in our zoo, and your investment in this particular project.”
Established in 1924, the zoo has around 300 animals, and receives more than 800,000 visitors per year. Zone recalled when the “zoo was on the verge of collapse” back in 2011, only generating $1.4 million per year with 114,000 visitors. More than a decade later, the zoo now rakes in around $25 million per year, Zone said during a Dec. 18 Montgomery County Board of Commissioners meeting.
“My main involvement with … the zoo is the fact that it was such a jewel here in our county, but more importantly, in Norristown, and I wanted to see that strive,” Zone said.
Zone touted the zoo’s increasing interest and popularity time and time again, noting only 40,000 fewer visitors to the suburbs than the metropolitan Philadelphia Zoo situated just 18 miles away. He anticipated “we will hit 1 million visitors this year.
When cultivating a comprehensive $150 million master plan for the zoo, revamping the welcome center and the veterinary hospital was the first step. That facility was completed and unveiled last spring. Zone has visited Norristown Municipal Council multiple times where he received relief for ongoing projects pertaining to the zoo’s expansion plans, which will cover specific regions in Asia as well as North and South America.
“We’re about to expand into 22 acres. The bridge is being built as we speak,” Zone said, referring to a planned 260-foot internal vehicular bridge to cross Stony Creek.
Infrastructure improvements were also an essential component to the zoo’s master plan as zoo officials eyed the installation of utilities in the land beyond the creek. Public uses will also be on the horizon as Zone emphasizes the need for connectivity on the zoo’s grounds.
“If you’re in the Farm Park and you want to come down and groom the goats, you’ll be able to do so,” Zone said. “There’ll be a walk-through beehive exhibit to learn about the importance of pollinators, but also to talk about Norristown and why Norristown chose the beehive as their seal, and you’ll be able to walk through that.”
“There will also be a nature play playground on that side of the campus, free to the public,” Zone said. “We had a great year this year with doing half-price admission with all county residents. If you get to the zoo on this side of campus, where we’re going to be expanding our North America, we will let you in at half-price because you got there in a green fashion. You traveled by bike, you ran through the [Norristown] Farm Park or even on the Schuylkill River Trail.”
