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'Phase 2' of Toledo Zoo re-opening plan begins July 1

The Zoo will be open to all visitors, not just Zoo members. Masks will be required for visitors over age 2, but only inside restrooms and other buildings.
Credit: Toledo Zoo

Starting Wednesday July 1, the Toledo Zoo will be open to all visitors once again.

It’s part of ‘Phase 2’ of the Zoo’s reopening plan.

‘Phase 2’ of the plan is not a full reopening of the Zoo to the way things were before the shutdown.

Operations will continue to be modified, elevated safety procedures will be put in place and hours of operation will be reduced.

In addition, the number of guests will be limited to 50% of the Zoo’s capacity and there will be restricted access to indoor exhibits.

The Broadway Ave. parking lot will also remain closed.

Hours of operation

  • Starting July 1, the Zoo will be open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (with the gate closing at 4 p.m.)
  • Starting on July 13 the Zoo will also open on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (with the gate closing at noon.)
  • The Zoo will remain closed on Tuesdays for “thorough deep cleaning”.
  • As before the closure, Lucas County residents will receive free Zoo admission from 10 a.m. to noon on Mondays with proof of residency.

Visitor and employee safety guidelines

  • Zoo visitors are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings while on the grounds of the Zoo.
  • Face coverings will be required for visitors over age 2 to enter restrooms and other indoor venues with some exceptions.
  • In most cases, employees will also wear face coverings unless wearing a mask is against best practice of the specific job.
  • 1-way and 2-way traffic patterns will be maintained throughout the zoo in order to encourage social distancing.
  • The tunnel will remain closed.
  • No outside food or beverages will be allowed into the Zoo except for medically required items and baby formula.
  • Counters, cash registers and often touched areas will be sanitized frequently.
  • Plexiglass screens will be installed at cash registers.
  • Rentable strollers, wagons, wheelchairs and scooters will also be sanitized before and after each rental.

The Zoo was closed to guests in mid-March due to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s initial shutdown order to slow the spread of COVID-19.

On June 4, Governor DeWine said movie theatres, museums and zoos could reopen.

Since, June 10, the Zoo has only been open, but only to members of the Toledo Zoo, and only to a maximum of 2,500 visitors at a time. This was ‘Phase 1’ of the Zoo’s reopening plan.

The Zoo will also be debuting a brand new exhibit, Barnyard, which features Mangalitsa pigs, goats and alpacas.

Exhibits that will be OPEN:

North side

  • Africa! – (Giraffe indoor viewing, carousel, train CLOSED)
  • Tower Ridge Giraffe Feeding Experience
  • Arctic Encounter
  • The Rescue Roost
  • South side
  • Aquarium
  • Cassowary Crossing
  • Flamingo Key
  • Galapagos Garden
  • Gardens
  • Great Apes
  • Nature’s Neighborhood – (Indoor viewing CLOSED)
  • Tiger Terrace
  • Penguin Beach – (Walk-through CLOSED)
  • Pheasantry
  • Barnyard
  • Primate Forest – (Indoor viewing CLOSED)
  • ProMedica Museum of Natural History – (Nature-in-Hand, Sturgeon touch tank, Hellbender crawlspace CLOSED)
  • Reptile House
  • Splash Pad and Playground
  • Tembo Trail – (Elephant indoor viewing CLOSED)

Exhibits that will be CLOSED:

North side

  • Wolf Cabin

South side

  • Ziems Conservatory

RELATED: Get closer to nature with the Toledo Zoo's Garden Tour Series

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