Philadelphia Zoo's KidZooU represents a big triumph

This month at the Philadelphia Zoo, we opened KidZooU: Hamilton Family Children's Zoo & Faris Family Education Center.

KidZooU, more than a decade in the making, is the largest single improvement project in the zoo's history. Throughout the process, during which we also expanded our innovative animal exploration trails and added visitor amenities such as a multistory parking garage, our board, staff, funders, and volunteers were keenly aware that we were creating a place that will be enjoyed by children for generations.

Designed with lifelong learners and the future of the animals on our planet in mind, KidZooU unites a worldview education center with an up-close-and-personal children's zoo. It is a wildlife academy that offers dynamic displays, hands-on learning experiences, and exhibits that feature rare and unusual goats, sheep, chickens, and ducks. It is also a platform for helping young conservationists in training, from toddlers to teens, to understand the power they have to protect our world's animals and habitats every day. KidZooU will challenge young people to protect our majestic natural world, and offer lifelong lessons about the choices and actions they make.

This positive conservation message, along with exceptional animal-care practices, is at the core of what we do at Philadelphia Zoo. A culture of excellence, a welcoming and memorable guest experience, and financial stewardship are our other core values, and, like many of the important cultural and historical institutions in Philadelphia, we are a resource for education and science, and have a significant economic impact on the region and state.

As a former banker, I can see the story told in numbers as well. Attendance is one measurement, and more than 1.2 million people visit each year, making us the second-largest ticketed attraction in Philadelphia (second only to the Phillies).

A recent economic-impact study, using data from 2004 and projecting through 2014, estimated that our operations and substantial capital investment will generate $244 million in total regional economic impact for the commonwealth, including $61.3 million in tax revenue and $117 million in construction labor, consulting services, and materials. To generate this type of impact, a public-private partnership is required. Eighty percent of these investments are derived from the zoo's own resources and fund-raising efforts, with the balance coming from public sources.

These investments also result in good jobs. Each year, zoo operations support 1,775 full-time jobs. And, through our capital investments, the zoo has added about 215 direct jobs in each of the last 10 years.

The same could be said of other zoos and aquariums around the globe. According to the Association for Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), its 225 member attractions draw 179 million visitors annually, including 50 million children. That's more than the NFL, Major League Baseball, and the NHL combined. According to AZA data, its members generate about $16 billion in economic activity and support 142,000 jobs.

Of course, when you visit the zoo, you won't see the story in numbers. You'll see it reflected in the spirit and on the faces of our guests. By connecting them with nature and wildlife, the Philadelphia Zoo is creating joyful discovery and inspiring action for animals and habitats, improving our quality of life.

KidZooU and the animal exploration trails will build on our decades-long experience of connecting animals and humans. This will pay dividends for our children, our grandchildren, and our environment for generations to come.