Don't hit taxpayers with zoo vanity project

Cosley Zoo in Wheaton is cherished by generations of families. The Wheaton Park District however wants to spend $49 million, most of which will come from Wheaton taxpayers, to make Cosley, "the most popular and successful attraction in DuPage County."

The Wheaton Park District is choosing to not listen to their residents who completed a survey back in 2016 with 98% of respondents saying "they liked Cosley just as it is."

The Master Plan will not only expand the zoo but it will also include building a new 150-plus space lot across the street from the zoo, leaving families to now cross at a light on Gary Avenue to get to the zoo.

This is a safety issue with a tragedy waiting to happen to some young family crossing a busy street and will add even more traffic congestion to one the few north/south main streets of Wheaton.

Wheaton taxpayers already pay $1 million a year to cover costs Cosley cannot cover in its operations. Additionally Wheaton residents pay park district tax levies that are 47% higher than Naperville and 35% higher than Glen Ellyn.

Finally from The Cosley Zoo Strategic Plan, it is suggested to begin charging Wheaton residents an entry fee as well as charging for parking. From Cosley's own reporting, only one of six visitors is a Wheaton resident. Wheaton taxpayers should not be on the hook for this vanity project.

Mary Lee

Wheaton