Well, this post is five weeks overdo. Part of a series of eyes on the grounds notations. Obviously my main focus is on the Animals, but there are other things that have irked me. These things are mostly doable fixes that I think are important, as they show that the Zoo has Pride in itself.
I've written much about Perception. I really believe little things (although this is major in my opinion), set a tone for visitor perception. Considering the unfavorable climate surrounding Our Zoo since April 2024, things like this need immediate attention. Our Zoo has been scrutinized and criticized, and is at a point in time where public perception is most crucial. I want Our Zoo to be the best that it can be, and that includes looking the best that it can.
This Monday (July 6), has now marked week six since a panel of fencing broke loose from the crumbling pillar it was attached to. Three weeks ago, it fell further and is now laying down against the chain link fence behind. Maybe it too has finally had enough and is putting itself to rest.
This is certainly not the best it can look, and not only projects a bad image, but sends the message, that no one cares.
They should have incorporated it into the Dino event. At least it would have been on theme.
This Perimeter Fence situation has been too long drawn out. So long that my last post about it was nine months ago, when I posted that I was done with talking about it for the time being. In September, I had documented the with new Zoo Leadership (change over as of August 1), there was progress on the grounds with a few things, one being a clean-up along the fence-line. I also posted ideas about what to-do to make the perimeter fence and entry not look war-torn, with the fence crumbling, broken pillars, and continuous graffiti. That post was sent to the then (now permanent) Interim CEO/Director, Cassandra Costello, by another Staffer who I had sent it to. So, attention and ideas were put forth. I think the desperate attention to this fence that leads Our Zoo's Guests into the Zoo, is important.
That initial clean-up included pulling weeds at the base of the fence, which unfortunately made the appearance worse. It exposed years of wood rot. One would think taking care of this would be a priority. It is the first thing people see. Both Visitors and perspective Visitors. For years, I've been asking, Why is this fence still standing?
Thumbs Down that this fence has been literally broken down for six weeks. Maybe there is a plan, but good grief, some attempt to prop it up should have made by now. This length of time is just unacceptable.
A few weeks ago, new banners went up one the fence closest to the path into the parking lot. I thought, like nine months ago, great, attention is back on the outside appearance of Our Zoo. So far, that has been the extent of it.
Thumbs Up for the new banners. Something that was in my suggestions nine months ago.
Not long before that fence panel fell, I spied this when I arrived. Not gonna lie, I parked with glee and hope, but when I passed by and asked, alas, these guys were not there to take down the tired fence, only replace the portion close to the entrance path, and the barbed wire on the chain link behind the broken down fence that makes Our Zoo look like it's in a third world country rather than it's position on our beautiful coast.
This is the part that was being replaced. The black vinyl fencing (now covered by the banners) that had been a continuous victim of graffiti. If they were going to replace this, I would have preferred an additional chain link to have been extended from the one behind the broken down fence, along this line and around the corner along the start of the path into the parking lot. That area could use a higher fence, especially because no one can seem to shovel out the sand so the ground is lowered and doesn't create an easy access from outside the Zoo. To me, it seems like a vulnerable point of entry for both sinister humans and wild Animals.
I did find it curious that the old vinyl fence was replaced. It didn't look in much different shape than the new one, but I never fully inspected it, as the broken down wooden fence is all that catches my attention. Unless, there's lasting graffiti, which the new fence had this tag for at least a couple weeks.
Above shows the turn of the corner I mentioned. The fence not only looks like it get lower, but the accumulation of sand creates a higher standing point. Thankfully that beautiful tree is in the optimum position to shelter the issue a bit.
Standing on the sand behind the tree, shows the fence height.
Someone needs to shovel that way down. This is not the first time I've written about this. It's been like this for many years, and is another in a long list of head-shakers.
While I'm complaining about presentation, Can someone just get a can of Black Paint to cover the graffiti?
I've been looking for at least a couple years for an old Sloat photo that shows the broken down fence, so I can get an actual age on it. Finally found one a few weeks ago. While the fence may be older, this photo dated 1970, puts it at fifty-five years minimum. It's weathered wood and crumbling concrete pillars are tired. It's time for a change.
With the exception of a corner to the left of this photo (not shown), this is the entire length of the fence. I'm showing this to illustrate the size comparison to the fence line of the Botanical Garden, shown below.
The reason I'm showing this is because the Botanical Garden got a new fence courtesy of a RecPark project, and the Zoo didn't. The details about this, are in my opinion shameful.
I have had several draft posts about the negligence from all managing entities, including RecPark. I've written too much regarding the subject, but I'm going to rehash it in upcoming posts. For the purpose of this post, I'm isolating the info to this specific issue.
In 2020, during the pandemic shutdown, the RecPark had a fence replacement project for facilities in their department. The RecPark did one for the Botanical Gardens that ran well over a mile around the perimeter, and with the additional inside, probably totaled close to two miles. The Zoo's problem area is minimal in comparison. There was signage outside the BG about the project, including the project manager's contact information.
I emailed him and I told him the situation at the Zoo. That the fence has been there for decades with no attention to it and it's crumbling. I noted they need help, and that the Zoo is in their department. I explained that the Director is negligent in caring about how the front of the Zoo looks, or much else, and allegedly there is no money. I said I was just FYI'ing them and inquiring whether or not the Zoo would qualify considering it's a City owned facility. I also noted that the Bison fence is the responsibility of the RecPark so possibly this could fall into the same type category, as well noting the Botanical Gardens is operated by an independent management team just like the Zoo is. The project manager got back to me and he said had not heard anything about the Zoo, and he would ask his boss. When his boss replied, he sent me the email. His boss said the Zoo can pay for it themselves! Which I thought was outrageous considering this is a City owned property and in my opinion, regardless of who's responsibility it technically is per the lease agreement, morally they should have cared about this place in their own department.
They allegedly had left over in that fence project pot and could have done it. They just didn't want to. They could have helped the Zoo, THEIR ZOO. That's my issue with this part of the situation.
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> Related Link:
For over fifteen years, the Zoo's former CEO/Director left the fence in worse shape than this, if you can imagine that even being possible. It was only painted this brown color a couple years ago. I think it was right before a ZooFest. For those interested, here's the link to a video I made, that shows the state it was in before being painted.
> Related Posts:
*Lordy Be, Can It Be? Do We Finally Have Management Who Cares About Our Zoo?
For more history of the Fence, search this blog using keywords, "Fence" , "Perimeter Fence"
> Comments: Note that Anonymous Comments are accepted. I moderate all comments before publishing. If you are using this form for a non-publish correspondence, please note "Personal" on it. Thank you for your participation and/or feedback.
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I used to use (search) labels, but too often forget. I started noting "Hot Topic" in title, but fell lax on that. Now I'm just going to add labels, keywords, etc., here at the bottom with hashtags. Does it help in searches, who knows.
#SanFrancisco , #SanFranciscoZoo , #Zoos #SanFranciscoZoologicalSociety , #SanFranciscoZooCEODirectorCassandraCostello , #FormerSanFranciscoZooDirectorTanyaPeterson , #SanFranciscoRecreationAndParksDept , #FormerSanFranciscoMayorLondonBreed , #SanFranciscoMayorDanielLurie , #AssociationOfZoosAndAquariums , #AZA , #SpeciesSurvivalPlan , #SSP , #Animals , #Wildlife , #Nature , #AnimalWelfare , #AnimalCruelty , #AndeanBear , #KomodoDragon , #Chimpanzees , #PatasMonkey , #Fossa , #Orangutans , #Barriers , #PerimeterFence , #Pandas , #Bison , #Gorillas , #Lemurs , #Lions
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