Central Park Zoo Discriminates Against Poor Kids id AAA08168; Tue, 14 Oct 1997 00:49:24 -0400 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit Mon, 13 Oct 1997 18:05:40 -0400 NEW CENTRAL PARK CHILDREN'S ZOO DISCRIMINATES AGAINST POOR KIDS It is fitting that prior to its official opening on September 24th, the new Children's Zoo in Central Park 'tested' its attractions on students from the exclusive Dalton School, where annual tuition exceeds $20,000 - and not on public school kids. The pre-opening test, duly documented in a 'feel good' article appearing on the front page of the 'N.Y. Times' Metro Section last Sunday, underscores the fact that the zoo is much more accessible to rich kids than their poor counterparts. Whether this is an insidious plot perpetrated by The Wildlife Society's fabulously wealthy Trustees and Board members (combined net worth exceeds $10 billion) who are intent on taking over public property and turning into a private zoo for their privileged kids and their Silk Stocking friends - or if it's an inadvertent oversight by well-meaning though less than well informed civic-minded philanthropists - the result remains the same: Free School tours are limited to 30, which means that classes at swank private schools (with class sizes half those of public schools) are welcome, and all public school classes (invariably more than 30 pupils) are unwelcome. * The "Zoo School" includes an auditorium, two classrooms, and audio-visual equipment supposedly for the propose of teaching children environmental education, but, alas, this facility is closed to the public and used for exclusive private birthday parties - at a cost of $460-$1,000 for 10 - 24 children. * The original Children's Zoo on the same site as its new reincarnation had a "Winter Exhibit Building," designed by John Lewis Wilson, the first black American graduate of Columbia School of Architects. This space, has been removed so groups coming from the outer boroughs will have no place to sit and rest. Without this facility the Children's Zoo will be uncomfortable for young kids visiting from the outer boroughs during cold and inclement weather. * What was once a regional park for the benefit of all citizens has now been redesigned to primarily serve the affluent. For example, it is difficult for multiple school groups to use because the width of some pathways has been narrowed to 6' or less. The Wildlife Society plans to "limit" admittance which is intended to discourage school groups in favor of smaller nannies & child units - which effectively eliminates the majority of less affluent kids, who are much more likely to visit if the zoo was designed to accommodate school groups. * Educational programs are at such a high cost that the majority of non-affluent kids can't afford to participate. The so-called "free zoo tour," moreover, are only given during the coldest months - when it is most difficult for non-local kids to visit. * Storytime readings for children are also scheduled after 3:00 P.M. - when school groups are gone - and only nannies with local children are present. * Obviously, the poor cannot afford to attend overnight pajama parties at $90 per non-member parent/child pair. Why is the agreement between the Wildlife Society and the City not being properly monitored and enforced? Why are the interests of the public at large, who own the city's public lands, not being respected? Why is the budget of The Children's Zoo kept secret? Why are school groups forbidden from eating bagged lunches, when only private school kids can afford to eat at the zoo's rather pricey cafe? oOo Oct. 10, 1997 NYC Concerned Citizens For an Open and Fair Central Park Children's Zoo 71 Montrose Ave. Brooklyn, NY, 11206 Contact: Andri van Hoek 718 387fax7074 718 387-9026 The above is a flyer outlining some of the misuses of public space. It is the outcome of an educational volunteer simply wanting to do educational work for inner city kids without cost to the Wildlife Society. In trying to bring these claims to the NYC Parks it was found that the contract agreement which allowed the Wildlife Society to manage the Central Park Zoo was no longer being adhered to. So there is no place for a volunteer to ask for reform of open access for low-income people. ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytrc-10.14.97-00:49:53-13023