Ross Park Zoo in Binghamton releases reopening plan as it gets ready for late June restart

BINGHAMTON — The staff and board of the Southern Tier Zoological Society on June 1 announced a plan for the reopening of Ross Park Zoo as part of phase 4 of the Southern Tier’s reopening under New York State’s regional restart.

“We anticipate being able to reopen Ross Park Zoo at the end of June. Zoo staff have been working on developing safety protocols based on currently available industry guidance from New York State, public health recommendations from the CDC and USDA, and best practices from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums,” the Society said in a news release.

The plan includes screening, physical distancing, use of protective equipment, hygiene and cleaning, and contact tracing and disinfection of contaminated areas to protect the zoo’s staff and visitors, and also ensure the safety and welfare of the animals.

The plan, which is subject to change as additional information becomes available, can be viewed at https://rossparkzoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/2020_reopening_plan_FINAL-1.pdf

The Ross Park Zoo is located at 60 Morgan Road in Binghamton. It was founded in 1875 and is the fifth-oldest zoo in the country.