Staten Island Zoo

www.statenislandzoo.org


Opened 10.6.1936

City: Staten Island

Country: USA

State: New York

 

Species 300

 The Staten Island Zoo is New York City’s biggest little zoo, an oasis of nature and wildlife in Staten Island’s suburban landscape. There is so much to see, do and experience at the Staten Island Zoo, whether you are young or old, a nature and wildlife enthusiast or just looking to broaden your horizons. From enjoying the multitude of animal exhibits from servals to bobcats. The Staten Island Zoo features an internationally acclaimed reptile collection with one of the most extensive collections of North American rattlesnakes housed in a brand-new, state-of-the-art, interactive reptile wing, featuring the "Fear Zone," all about venomous critters. The Zoo’s African Savannah Exhibit features a number of exotic animals that are native to the vast grasslands of central and southern Africa, such as leopards, mandrills, lizards, and meerkats. The Zoo also features a tropical forest, an aquarium, and a New England farm themed Children’s Center complete with farm animals. Children will enjoy the Kids Korral, a barn and petting area, as well as pony rides. There is also an exhibit for the Zoo's otters where you can view our festive friends either below the water or out in the open in their spacious quarters. The Zoo also recently added a beautiful bobcat exhibit to the left of the Broadway entrance.  A viewing glass allows the Bobcats to safely get close to visitors while also housing climbing rocks, a waterfall and a scenic backdrop depicting an abundance of foliage.

Last visit 2014


Staten Island Zoo
614 Broadway
Staten Island
NY 10310
USA

Phone nr 718-442-3100


Open minimum 10am-4.45pm except Christmas Day and New Year's Day


Entrance (free wednesday after 2 pm)

• Adult 10 $
• Child 6 $

 Membership (includes the Annual entrance)

• Adult 60 $
• Family* 100 $

*Family memberships are valid for 2 adults and up to 5 children. Check on line for other membership levels

There are several daily feeding shows, for the time please ask at the till station.

Feel free to take as many pictures as you want. If you publicate the pictures online plese mention the Zoos name


History:

The history of the Staten Island Zoo (Barrett Park) can be traced back to three long forgotten Staten Island War heroes, Colonel Edward Harden, Colonel Richard Penn Smith and Major Clarence Barrett. In the 1800s Staten Island was home to many ranking military leaders including Colonel Harden and Colonel Penn Smith whose estates were located right across from each other on opposite sides of Clove Road. The Staten Island Zoo was built on the former estate grounds of Colonel Edward Harden. Colonel Harden fought in the Spanish–American War and moved to 614 Broadway on Staten Island in 1908 with his wife Julia Harden where they resided in what was later known as the "Harden Mansion". Mrs Harden willed the land to the city upon her death under three conditions: that it be named for her brother in law, Civil War Major Clarence Barrett, that the property not be used for a playground and that her husband Colonel Harden be allowed to reside in the house that stood on the property. Mrs Harden died in 1930 and the property was transferred to the city of New York. The site was (and still is) officially called "Barret Park" in city planning records and it wasn't until the 1960s when the "Staten Island Zoo" became the popular name for the site. In the first few years the only mention of "Zoo" in the Zoo signs were in the word "Zoological" for the "Staten Island Zoological Society" which operated Barret Park. In August 1933 the Staten Island Zoological Society was created. On March 25, 1935 the Egbert-Robillard Bill was passed by the New York State Senate to have the city provide maintenance for the zoo. Two months later on May 7, 1935 the Governor of New York signed an agreement to allocate public funds for the zoo to cover operational and maintenance costs while the exhibits, animal care and educational programs were to be maintained by the Staten Island Zoological Society. With the land now owned by the city and a Zoological Society in place to run and administer the site, Zoo construction commenced in 1933 as part of the Federal Government’s works program to convert the 8-acre estate into a zoo. The zoo opened to the public on June 10, 1936 and was considered the first U.S. "educational zoo." The parking lot which was built in 1968 and was built on a plot of land across from the zoo on the corner of Clove Road and Martling Avenue, The property was originally the mansion of United States Civil War Colonel Richard Penn Smith who fought at the battle of Gettysburg. The war hero resided in Staten Island and after his death was buried in Staten Islands Moravian Cemetery on Richmond Road. The Colonels large stately home and surrounding plot of land was later purchased by the Actors Fund which turned the Colonels home into a retreat for actors with 50 bedrooms and views of Martling Pond. In the late 1920s the retreat was closed and the 20 acres of the estate were eventually acquired and split between the Staten Island Zoological Society for use as a parking lot and by the Saint Peters Cemetery for expansion of burial sites. As of January 2010, the Zoo was working on several renovations. A new carousel and an outdoor Amur leopard enclosure, slated to be one of the largest leopard enclosures in the United States once completed, are being designed by Slade Architecture under the New York City Design Excellence Program.