The Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield, MO was established in 1922 and nearly closed in the 1970s before the Friends of the Zoo (FOZ) helped revitalize it through membership, education programs, and finding donors. Since then, the zoo has grown to include 120 animal species across five geographic regions, and sees continued growth in tourism, education programs, and conservation efforts. It was reaccredited in 2012 and now welcomes visitors to experience its animals and numerous annual events.

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News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Inside the Zoo
(Springfield, MO) Feb. 06, 2014 – Dickerson Park Zoo’s mission statement is to connect people
with animals and to create adventures that encourage discovery and inspire conservation action.
The Zoo has been creating these adventures for almost 100 years.
The Dickerson Park Zoo was established in 1922 by the Springfield Park Board. The 120 acres
of land, purchased from the Jerome Dickerson, Sr. estate, was developed by the WPA labor and
funds and other federal agencies.
Little development occurred until the 1970’s. The Zoo had become a liability for the city of
Springfield and was on the cusp of being closed.
The next 10 years marked a growth period thanks to the group, Friends of the Zoo (FOZ).
The FOZ developed a membership program, created education programs and found donors to
help support new projects and developments. Thanks to FOZ the City of Springfield devoted a
budget to help offset costs.
The changes that occurred in the Dickerson Park Zoo overlapped with modifications in zoos
across the nation. An emphasis on recreation, education, conservation and research was adopted
as a leader for zoos in the nation.
The Dickerson Park Zoo created a master plan in 1985 and revised it in 1996. The master plan
outlined new parameters on themes and development. Out of the 120 acres only 70 of these were
available for development, 54 acres in use, leaving 16 for future projects.
Other changes that occurred during this decade included adopted Species Survival Plans for
elephants, wolves, cheetahs and giraffes. Each of these survival plans were met with great
success.
Education programs were developed to create an interest in the natural world. The Zoo also
stressed the importance of conducting various studies to gain knowledge of the natural world and
revitalization of various displays throughout the park.
These changes generated traffic and attendance for the Zoo and helped create the Dickerson Park
Zoo of today. Involvement with the Zoo continues to grow as more families gain an interest in
furthering their knowledge about the world.
The growth of tourism in the Springfield area also contributes to the attendance rising and offers
a unique experience in Springfield.

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The Zoo was recently reaccredited in 2012 and marks the Zoo as a professional establishment
that maintains high standards to the treatment of animals, facility management, education
programs and conservation contribution.
Today, there are many programs that children and adults can become involved in and various
animals to see. Children can be involved in Zoo Tots, ZOOper Kids and other grade-oriented
programs. Adults and children are able to adopt an animal at the Zoo to help care for its needs.
A few major displays include the geographical themed sections of the Zoo: Africa, Australia,
Missouri Habitats, South America and Tropical Asia. These geographical themed areas include
animals native to the regions.
The five geographical regions in the Dickerson Park Zoo are home to over 340 animals
representing 120 species.
Throughout the year, the Zoo hosts a multitude of events. The events include Mother’s and
Father’s Day celebrations and other major holidays throughout the year. The next major event is
the Party for the Planet. Party for the Planet is celebration for Earth Day.
The Dickerson Park Zoo will have summer hours beginning on April 1, 2014. The hours of
operation will be from 9:00 PM to 5:00 PM daily.
The Dickerson Park Zoo is located at 3043 North Fort, Springfield, MO. To find more
information about prices and the various events visit the website or call them.
If you are interested in learning more about the Dickerson Park Zoo, visit their site at
www.dickersonparkzoo.org or by calling (417) 833-1570.
Contact:
Blake Allan Miller
417-259-2587
Blake968@live.missouristate.edu
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