Public Access to the Zoo

About the Program

Category: Parks and Recreation (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

OC Parks manages the OC Zoo, a small zoo inside Irvine Regional Park. The park seesapproximately one million visitors annually, and the zoo averages approximately 275,000. The zoo,which features animals of the American Southwest, as well as a petting zoo area with farmanimals, is very popular with families with small children. The zoo lacked a restroom within itsgates, forcing people to leave the zoo and use a nearby park restroom. The single entry/exit gatealso was subject to congestion, especially on busy weekend days. Additionally, the regional powersupplier has in recent years implemented Public Safety Power Shutoffs on high wind fire risk daysto minimize the threat of wildfires. This leaves the zoo potentially subject to extended poweroutages. The OC Zoo Interim Entry Project represents the first significant step implemented in thezoo’s General Development Plan. It added a new building allowing for separate ingress/egresspoints to improve pedestrian traffic. It also added men’s, women’s and family restrooms and aTesla solar battery to provide backup emergency power in event of a power shutoff.