AlbertC
Superstar
It'll likely be in place until the further stages of reopening are allowed in the province. Considering the circumstances, I do think it's good that people are supporting the zoo in whatever way they can.
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... Where I think it falls short is the parking/transit/Meadowvale and Zoo Rd. area
I would prefer to see a 2 or 3-storey parking garage (or underground) w/green roof that consolidates parking into the main lot area only.
This would allow the East Campus sites to be mostly restored with perhaps a small portion going to a small, ecologically sensitive parking lot, and maybe an outdoor classroom for school groups visiting Rouge Park....
The Toronto Zoo will reopen to the public today but it will look a little different with visitors required to purchase timed tickets in advance and stick to a one-way trail when on the grounds.
The zoo closed to the public back on March 14 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and remained completely off-limits to visitors for more than two months.
On May 23 it launched a new drive-thru program dubbed the “Scenic Safari” in order to welcome back some visitors but there was a strict policy preventing people from leaving their vehicles and there was only a limited number of tickets available.
Today the zoo will open its doors for the general public again, becoming one of the first major tourist attractions in the city to reopen following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CN Tower has said that it will reopen on July 15th while the Royal Ontario Museum has announced plans to reopen to members on July 9 and the general public on July 11.
The Art Gallery of Ontario reopened to members this week but isn’t scheduled to open for the general public until July 23.
DeJong said that zoo is being “really diligent” about monitoring the number of people it lets onto its grounds at any one time and for that reason is requiring all visitors to book their tickets in advance for a specific admission time.
He said that zoo goers will also be expected to use a one-way path that goes around the interior of the zoo grounds, connecting with a number of major pavilions and exhibits.
“It will allow guests to hop into buildings and go on some side trails but really uses our massive physical site to help ensure that physical distancing and minimize folks being in close proximity to each other,” DeJong said.
While the zoo itself is open a number of amenities remain closed, including its splash pad, all of its rides and its most of its gift shops.
All zoo goers will also be required to wear a face masks when indoors in keeping with a city bylaw that will go into effect on Tuesday.
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Orangutans to climb higher at Toronto zoo thanks to steel - constructconnect.com - Daily Commercial News
National and provincial building codes do not include clauses dealing with orangutan climbing poles which highlights one of the many design and planning complexities of a new $9.9 million orangutan exhibit at the Toronto Zoo. Construction by general contcanada.constructconnect.com
Orangutans to climb higher at Toronto zoo thanks to steel
September 25, 2020
Construction by general contractor Midome Construction started in July on this project with an extensive steel component.
Designed by Zeidler Architecture Inc. in association with Jones & Jones Architects & Landscape Architects Ltd, a firm with a specialty in zoo design, the exhibit will include two outdoor habitats housing a total of eight cantilevered HSS steel poles with three 25-mm-thick steel cables extending from pole to pole for orangutans to walk/climb over the zoo visitors.
There will also be slight modification to the indoor existing Orangutan holding/exhibit areas within the zoo’s Indo-Malaya Pavilion
The Orangutan Outdoor Exhibit will be a modern facility that provides outdoor access that has never before been available before to the zoo’s six resident orangutans, says zoo project manager Ben Knoop.
“Orangutans are arboreal or tree dwelling creatures” says Knoop, explaining that, in this setting, the steel poles will be the trees.
View attachment 271668
Unlike real trees, steel poles get very hot during the day and very cold during the night.If the goal were to enrich the experience of Orangutans living at the Zoo...........maybe they were prefer real trees to climb instead of poles that seem more in keeping w/exhibiting the animals to humans.
By all means giving the Orangutans the option of such poles; but let them also have the option of privacy.
Interesting I wonder what the rules about outside of the city of Toronto transit agencies picking up at the Zoo are.In a report to the April 13th meeting of the Toronto Zoo Board, we learn that discussions and actions are underway to substantially improve public transit access to The Zoo.
Discussions have been held with GO Transit, YRT, Durham Transit and the TTC.
DRT is tentatively set to begin service to The Zoo on June 26, weekends and holidays, through Labour Day.
Given than the new Rouge Park Visitor's Centre is set to be on Zoo Road, there is also discussion about jointly serving Rouge Park.
Report here:
It would be interesting if there were serious plans to have LRT or subway be extended to the zoo.In a report to the April 13th meeting of the Toronto Zoo Board, we learn that discussions and actions are underway to substantially improve public transit access to The Zoo.
Discussions have been held with GO Transit, YRT, Durham Transit and the TTC.
DRT is tentatively set to begin service to The Zoo on June 26, weekends and holidays, through Labour Day.
Given than the new Rouge Park Visitor's Centre is set to be on Zoo Road, there is also discussion about jointly serving Rouge Park.
Report here: