THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 23, 1994 TAG: 9410210281
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 21 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
Walk by the zoo, and the birds won't be the only ones you will hear singing.
The Virginia Zoological Society recently was awarded a $112,000 operating grant by the Institute of Museum Services.
The two-year grant is awarded for excellence in museum operations, said Glenda Nelson, the society's director of development. With that financial and critical praise, the Virginia Zoological Park is poised for the future.
``We're thrilled,'' Nelson said. ``It's entirely different from most grants.''
While many grants are designed for research, Nelson said, this award was given for excellence.
``I think it's because of all the things we've done,'' she said.
Nelson added that society board members are active in the daily operations at the zoo, such as in food services and in the gift shop.
``They were most interested in the care of our animals and the general appearance of the zoo,'' she said. ``But the most important part of that was how much the board was involved in the operation and what's happening.''
The institute also considered the zoo's increase in membership and education programs, such as the ``Animals in Art'' series with The Chrysler Museum.
The institute awarded 300 grants across the country, but most went to art museums. None of the awards was larger than $112,000, and of the 130 accredited U.S. zoos, only 12 won grants.
The society originally had applied for funding for a business manager, Nelson said. With the grant, the zoo will be able to open that position and expand its operations.
The zoo is planning to expand its services to include a breeding facility in Chesapeake. In addition, the zoo is designing an African savanna, a butterfly exhibit and a Dismal Swamp area. The society hopes to open the new exhibits by 1997.
As for the near future, next month the zoo will open its ``Wild Lights'' exhibit - a park-wide holiday lights display - every night until January.
In addition, an animated dinosaur exhibit and a tiger exhibit are scheduled to open this spring.
The zoo society also is beginning a fund-raising campaign to raise $14.9 million for the park's growth. Once the society raises $4.9 million, both Norfolk and the state will match that amount, Nelson said. by CNB