Photo: Ford, Brad
Building on more than a decade’s worth of improvements at the Oregon Zoo, the Metro Council has decided to ask Portland-area voters to renew their commitment to animal well-being, education and sustainability at the zoo’s 64-acre Washington Park campus.
Meeting at the zoo Thursday morning, the council heard public testimony before voting, with supporters citing a wide range of reasons for investing, including the health and well-being of animals in the zoo’s care; opportunities to support species recovery and wildlife conservation; improved access to education and memorable experiences for kids, families and visitors of all ages; and broader impacts of the zoo to the region’s economy and culture.
“The Oregon Zoo doesn’t just keep pace,” said Dan Ashe, president and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. “It’s a leader in helping set the pace for ever-rising standards, thanks in large part to your community’s ongoing support.”
The proposed $380 million bond measure would take the baton from the bond approved by voters in November 2008. Work funded by that bond was completed in 2021, transforming about 40% of the zoo campus, with new habitats for elephants, polar bears, chimpanzees and condors; a new veterinary medical center; and expanded classrooms and other educational spaces.
“The things that are left to do are just as important,” noted Metro Councilor Christine Lewis. “Particularly to being top of the line when it comes to animal health and well-being."
Envisioned in the new measure are overhauls of the zoo’s penguin and sea otter habitats, located in one of the oldest areas of the zoo, parts of which date back to the 1950s. The measure would also focus investments in the zoo’s Africa area, including an improved habitat for giraffes, with expanded indoor space.
The measure would create enhanced opportunities for visitors to engage with animals, make it easier for people of all abilities to navigate pathways and plazas on the zoo’s hilly campus, and provide better protection from heat and extreme weather for animals, visitors and staff.
Investments would also save water and energy, and support the zoo’s ambitious goals for transitioning to a fossil fuel–free campus, by replacing outdated infrastructure, habitats and facilities.
“The Oregon Zoo is part of us learning how to do conservation and to do it right,” Metro Council President Lynn Peterson said.
If passed, the measure is projected not to increase current tax rates, as payments on previous bonds wind down. The average estimated rate for the new measure is 8.5 cents per $1,000 of assessed value — about $1.95 a month for the owner of a home assessed at $275,000.
Priority investments were identified from a new long-range Oregon Zoo campus plan, developed over 18 months through engagement with community stakeholders, zoo visitors, staff and animal health experts. The Metro Council approved the campus plan’s concepts in October.
The Metro Council’s unanimous decision sends the bond measure to Portland-area voters in the May 2024 election. If passed, zoo staff will prepare a detailed implementation plan, outlining specific phasing and improvements, by the fall.
Source: Metro