When the BREC Commission meets later today, one issue that will not be on the agenda is a potential new location of BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo
In March, independent consultants presented the commission with a long-awaited study that recommends relocating the zoo from its current home in north Baton Rouge to a new location either at BREC’s Airline Highway Park or along the Nicholson corridor.
But BREC Superintendent Carolyn McKnight says it will be “a very, very, very long time” before the issue comes up again for further discussion. That’s because after the March meeting, the commission directed her to begin doing due diligence on a possible zoo relocation, a lengthy process that will involve countless meetings with community leaders to determine whether there is real interest—and financial commitment—to reimagine and revitalize the parish’s zoo.
“This is only feasible if we have the funding,” McKnight says. “It is going to take some very heavy lifting to make sure we can implement the new vision.”
The possible relocation of the zoo is controversial, with some north Baton Rouge political leaders decrying the move. It will also be costly, with an estimated price tag of some $110 million. Since the consultant’s report came out last month, McKnight has had a few meetings and says the feedback she has received spans the spectrum.
“Some people want you to move the zoo yesterday,” she says. “Others don’t want you to move it at all. Others wonder if we even need a zoo.”
Complicating matters is a 3.96-mil dedicated property tax voters will be asked to renew this fall. The tax generates about $15.4 million a year and funds 50% of BREC’s operations and maintenance. It is unrelated, however, to any zoo improvements, whether at a new location or the existing one—a fact McKnight fears is lost on many voters.
“People need to understand this tax renewal is not at all related to the zoo,” she says. “If they’re upset about moving the zoo or not moving the zoo, voting against this tax will not impact that decision. It will hurt our existing programs.”
McKnight can’t say how long it might take to determine where the community is on the issue of a zoo upgrade or relocation or whether the issue might be tabled until after the fall election. But she plans to continue meeting with community leaders to gauge their interest.
“Whatever we do we are going to need public and private support to make it come about,” she says.
The BREC Commission meets at 5 p.m. at the BREC Administration Building, 6201 Florida Blvd. See the full agenda.
—Stephanie Riegel
