TAMPA, Fla. – ZooTampa at Lowry Park has announced it plans to reopen next month.
- ZooTampa plans to reopen around June 1
- Zoo will operate with reduced capacity and other safety measures
- ZooTampa has been closed since mid-March
In a notice on its website, the zoo said it is targeting a reopening date "on or about June 1."
To reopen, ZooTampa will implement a number of safety measures, including operating at 50 percent capacity, providing employees with protective equipment and offering guests disposable masks at no charge.
The new measures were outlined in a 17-page plan the zoo submitted to county and city officials on May 1. Other measures in the plan include enforcing physical distancing guidelines, restricting indoor venues to 25 percent and adding thermal monitoring stations at entry.
Six feet or more social distancing will also be required and enforced, according to the zoo.
“We’ve all felt the anxiety and stress of the pandemic on people, including children,” said Joe Couceiro, president and CEO of ZooTampa in a statement. “Outdoor experiences and connecting with nature and wildlife are healing and bring comfort to people. The zoo can provide restorative family experiences that are within the recommended guidelines for controlling the spread of COVID-19.”
ZooTampa has been closed since March 16 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. A team has remained to take care of zoo's 1,100 animals and to clean and sanitize the zoo grounds.