CASE STUDY: JACKSON ZOO
This is a plea to the City of Jackson and the Board of the Jackson Zoological Society to NOT move the Zoo, as is the currently reported plan for this dilapidated and truly historic gem.
I fell in love with the Jackson Zoo as soon as I turned off West Capitol Drive. The entry is celebrated—a clearly visible and lovely iconic sign marked the drive which led quickly to a grand double arched entry gate crowned proudly with the “Jackson Zoological Park.” A very formal greeting from this old Southern gal…
With a small parking area surrounded by gorgeous views of natural areas and open park space, the vehicular entry is truly welcoming. But then you park. The actual pedestrian entry is old in a not so charming way—a bad octagonal park building with a couple of chain link fences. Once inside, the zoo once again embraces a historical character. So much so, that it feels like a time capsule—a history museum of the best in zoo design over the years. Having opened in 1919, the zoo has seen its share of design trends including elaborate bear pits, Civilian Conservation Corps buildings and exhibits, a modernist amphitheater, 1970s and 80s naturalism and graphic design, thematic immersion, and, my favorite part, Southern plantation architecture.
All of these styles have been updated to be appropriate to the species currently housed there. The Asiatic black bear has two of the bear pits with climbing structures (leftover from an orangutan who moved to a more appropriate home at the Houston Zoo). The red panda has an entire bear pit which works surprising well as a beautiful and complex habitat. The rhino and mixed African savannas are absolutely humongous hoofstock habitats ringed by failing, yet stunning, CCC stacked stone and carved shotcrete walls and buildings. My jaw dropped at the simply stunning 1980s elevated boardwalk surrounded by an insanely gorgeous naturalistic chimpanzee habitat on one side and a pygmy hippo on the other. I’m sure these habitats were not purpose-built for these species, but wow, do they work now.
So many surprises revealed themselves at this little zoo. The castle hidden amongst overgrown vegetation and surrounded by an alligator infested moat which you view from a grand plantation porch—complete with rocking chairs. Across the pathway, a true southern plantation home (with an enviable wrap-around porch screaming for you to stop and rock for a while) houses an education center. I desperately wanted this to be a special event venue for rent. A grand stair leads from the porch to a wide plaza, just begging for weddings and cocktail parties.
Unfortunately, this zoo has been forgotten. The state of disrepair for so many things from broken sidewalks, to busted barrier walls, to the leaking and empty otter exhibit, to electrical extension cords running to and fro, to an entire exhibit center—the Discovery Zone—fenced off awaiting demolition as the roofs cave in literally before our eyes, illustrates the clear lack of funding and reinvestment. You only have to read the reviews to see that the guests are hyper aware of what’s happening—and seem to desperately want the zoo to succeed…as I do.
The abandonment of this historic gem would be, in my humble opinion, an abomination. Like its deteriorating neighbors—the buildings across the street from the zoo entry desperately need demolition, the city of Jackson deserves more. This zoo could easily be THE Mississippi zoo. The history it encompasses is worth the effort to save it, just like any historic structure. In a city full of history, this zoo could be an incredible representative attraction for Jackson. And, in investing in the zoo where it is, perhaps investment in its surrounding neighborhood would come as well. Bring the pride back to this area of the city.
I know there are others in love with this little zoo. I’ve read a few skeptics of relocation with whom I agree—invest $10 million where it is, with its history and its solid design (despite a few totally solvable circulation issues including perhaps a relocated entry), rather than investing likely $75 million or more in a wholly new zoo and new site where no one has connection or nostalgia. Give me a call, Jackson. I’m more than happy to help.
