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Enough is enough on zoo project

The Wheaton Park District Cosley Zoo Expansion Project is not a “Not In My Back Yard” issue for residents in Wheaton. It is a Wheaton Park District run-away-spending plan using our tax dollars.

In 2015, The Cosley Zoo Foundation developed a Strategic Business Plan. In 2016, The Wheaton Park District utilized the University of Illinois Office of Parks and Recreation Department to develop and implement a “Wheaton Park District Attitude and Interest Survey.”

In addition to a 98% Favorable Rating of Cosley Zoo, the top priorities from surveyed residents were:

* Preservation of Open Space

* Add indoor warm lap pool

* Add wildlife areas/natural areas

* Add small neighborhood parks

* Add picnic shelters/restrooms

With this information, why did the Wheaton Park District Board vote 6-0 in November to spend $4.3 million to construct a parking lot for Cosley Zoo on the opposite side of a busy road with no empirical evidence that such parking expansion is needed? Nowhere in the survey did a need for a Cosley Zoo expansion appear.

Wheaton Park District, use your own survey to guide you in your programmatic and facility expansion plans. Use data that reflects the needs and wants of the taxpayers who support you with a tax rate that is double surrounding communities.

Cosley Foundation, you do wonderful work for our “Hidden Jewel” but live within your means and improve current projects that need immediate attention and keep Cosley Zoo a local, taxpayer funded zoo.

Don’t be known as the groups who “Paved Paradise and Put Up a Parking Lot.”

John Patterson

Wheaton

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