 
Senate Resolution No. 592
 
BY: Senator WEBB
 
        COMMEMORATING  the  150th  Anniversary of the Ross
        Park Zoo
 
  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense  of  this  Legislative  Body  that  the
continuing  welfare  of the citizens of the State of New York is greatly
enriched and reliably  served  by  the  purposeful  endeavors  of  those
organizations  within  our  midst  that strive to enhance the quality of
life in their communities by promoting wildlife  conservation,  science,
and community engagement; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to
commemorate  the  150th  Anniversary  of  the  Ross  Park Zoo located in
Binghamton, New York; and
 
  WHEREAS, The Ross Park Zoo is an organization that  works  to  serve
and  secure  a future where wildlife thrives and enhances the quality of
life for citizens of its community and for its countless  visitors  over
the last 150 years; and
 
  WHEREAS,  A  wealthy  businessman, Erastus Ross, who stipulated that
the land was to be used as a  park  for  all  the  community  to  enjoy,
donated a 90-acre plot to the city of Binghamton, New York; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The Ross Park Zoo officially opened in 1875, and it is the
fifth oldest zoological institution in the country; and
 
  WHEREAS, The first  electric-run  trolleys  in  Binghamton  were  in
opened  in  1887,  and  a  line running up Park Avenue by way of the old
Washington Bridge created easy access to the park; and
 
  WHEREAS, The increased use  of  the  automobile  allowed  people  to
travel  out of the Binghamton area for recreation, decreasing the number
of visitors to the parks; the loss of this revenue caused the Ross  Park
Zoo  to slowly decline until the United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) threatened the zoo with closure; and
 
  WHEREAS, In 1966, concerned community residents formed the  Southern
Tier   Zoological   Society,   and  for  the  first  time  in  1972,  an
appropriation for the maintenance of Ross Park Zoo appeared in the  City
of  Binghamton's  budget; the society was granted a contract by the city
to oversee the operation and maintenance of the zoo  in  1977,  and  has
assumed additional responsibilities ever since; and
 
  WHEREAS,  With  naturalistic  exhibits  housing  over  100 different
species, a strong emphasis on conservation education,  and  an  outreach
program that serves over 20,000 people in New York and Pennsylvania, the
Ross  Park  Zoo  is  leaving  a legacy that will last for generations to
come; and
 
  WHEREAS, In honor of its 150th year, the Ross Park Zoo has  unveiled
the  America  Together  National  Mural  Mosaic,  a  mural  made  of 150
 
individually painted tiles to form a larger  picture,  in  collaboration
with the Mural Mosaic's Global Roots Project; and
 
  WHEREAS, The Ross Park Zoo, with over 150 years of proud history and
unrelenting  commitment  to  advancement,  remains today as a preeminent
example of our understanding of,  and  appreciation  for,  the  precious
wildlife  which  comprises  the  bounty  of nature and the beauty of our
environment; this zoo has brought untold delight and expansive knowledge
to a multitude of New York citizens and cherished visitors from  abroad;
now, therefore, be it
 
  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate the Ross Park Zoo on reaching the milestone anniversary  of
150  years,  and  for  its  dedication  to  increasing  awareness of the
importance of conservation for the benefit of both  the  animal  kingdom
and the human race; and be it further
 
  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Ross Park Zoo.
Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Ross Park Zoo

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