Oakland Zoo will reopen on July 30 as ‘outdoor museum.’
The state also approves resumption of outdoor dining for restaurants
OAKLANi >> Relief came Wednesday for the Oakland Zoo, in danger of closing for good because of lost revenue, and restaurant owners throughout Alameda County after the state granted the county permission to resume outdoor activities and dining, health officials said.
The state approved the county’s application for a variance to the statewide restrictions put in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The county’s standing on the state’s list of monitored counties required it to receive the state’s permission.
Oakland Zoo, operated by the Conservation Society of California, will reopen to visitors July 30 as an “outdoor museum,” with safety measures in place that require masks and social distancing. Indoor venues will remain closed, but visitors again will be able to stroll through zoo.
The zoo relies solely on admission and memberships for funds. Without that money, the zoo was forced to lay off or furlough em
ployees, retaining only those necessary for the care of more than 750 animals. It instead dipped into its reserves, which are nearly depleted. On July 2, when Oakland Zoo President Joel Parrott and Executive Vice President Nik Dehejia petitioned the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to allow the zoo to reopen, they estimated the zoo had enough funds to last only another month, at which time the city of Oakland would become responsible for the zoo’s animals.
The news of the possible closure spurred many to donate to the zoo, including a donation of almost $200,000 raised by a 6-year-old Castro Valley girl, Andy Soulard, who started a Facebook fundraising drive with the $5 she received from the Tooth Fairy. The girl encouraged others to donate and offered free handmade bracelets to those who gave more than $25.
Erin Dogan Harrison, vice president of marketing and communications for the zoo, said it also had received a $500,000 anonymous donation and will continue its fundraising efforts with a LollapaZOOla live virtual event at 7 p.m. July 25. Guests will include zookeepers; Parrott; the Golden State Warriors’ hype man, Franco Finn; and 6-year-old Andy. Steel Jams also will be performing live from the zoo. The event will be available at the zoo’s website, oaklandzoo.org.
People also can bid on auction items that include behind-the-scenes experiences, animal-created art, a virtual safari and other items. The silent auction becomes live beginning Monday.
The new permission from the state also allows outdoor dining within the county, as long as face masks are worn at all times except when eating or drinking, county health spokeswoman Neetu Balram said.
The 98-year-old, approximately 100-acre zoo has more than 700 native and exotic animals, including chimpanzees, sun bears, elephants, lions and giraffes, according to the zoo’s website.
Until Friday, many of the county’s dining establishments had been operating outdoors under a June 18 county-issued health order allowing them to do so. The county, however, failed to apply for a variance in timely fashion, and the state ordered the county to suspend outdoor dining completely.
The affected restaurants either closed or were relegated to takeout, drive-thru and delivery.
The permission to open outdoor activities comes on the county’s third day on the state’s County Monitoring List, which means there are still restrictions. Places of worship can conduct only outdoor services, and indoor malls must remain closed.
The county has recorded 154 deaths and confirmed 8,478 positive cases of the coronavirus through Tuesday.