City To Fund $40 Mil Park Structure, But Won't Invest In Our Zoo- Seriously WTF?

Yesterday was my first day IN, complete rest and peace after this weeks peopling.  I still had a few blog posts in draft, but really felt done.  After finally networking my letters to City Officials about investing in Our Zoo, because obviously they can't figure out the logic themselves, I really felt at this point, I had done all I can.   By last night I was deleting all my post drafts and many notepad documents.  I thought I was free.  I was wrong.  The grip of the bullshit is strong.

This morning I open email and there was the Chronicle's daily wrap-up.

The City is willing to pay $40 Million for a Park Structure, but not invest half that in Our Zoo?  In Our Animals?  Unconscionable.  Shameful.  I'd say Unbelievable but honestly it's not surprising.  

As today's anger sets in, and I saved the text and pix for this post, I started to feel physically ill.  Sick like you want to throw-up, but it's really just the kick of disgust straight to your gut.  As soon as I started writing this, tears began to well up, and now my ears are pulsating.  

By Aidin Vaziri

Oct 16, 2026

San Francisco’s new Embarcadero Park could get a large pavilion designed to serve as both a public passageway and an outdoor performance stage.

The design team is bringing two concepts, including two variations of one concept, to the Civic Design Review Committee on Monday.

The pavilion would sit between the park’s great lawn and its more neighborhood-oriented spaces. San Francisco Recreation and Park Department spokesperson Tamara Barak Aparton described it as about 85 feet long and 40 feet tall. 

The department said the structure is being designed to accommodate performances and gatherings ranging from puppet shows and kindergarten graduations to festivals and concerts.

The options are part of a broader design refinement of the 5-acre park, which will combine Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park across from the Ferry Building.

The presentation shows the great lawn, gardens, a community lawn, picnic areas, a dog play area and a market court, alongside plans for improved entrances and event infrastructure. 

The community review will allow design professionals to weigh in as the plans develop.

Paul Woolford, the design principal for HOK’s San Francisco studio, is scheduled to present Monday afternoon at City Hall.

The park has a projected $40 million budget and is being developed through a public-private partnership. Construction is expected to begin this year, with the park scheduled to open in late 2027 or early 2028.

Of course my plan for making this a well-rounded documentation of this news, beyond just pointing out he moral injustice, would be to research where the public funding is coming from.  

It's amazing how The City, and it's Recreation and Parks Department that has been the tasked Oversight entity of Our Zoo, always finds large dollar funds for projects, that have no bearing on the well-being of actual Living Beings.

Some key points that I've recently documented in regards to the financial responsibility of The City to Our San Francisco Zoo.

*Due to financial desperation, Our Zoo is faced with losing two beloved anchor species, Our Lions and Our Chimpanzees. 

*Both could be saved from eviction with an investment from the City to build them new homes, which would keep them at Our Zoo.

*The City/RecPark has never in thirty-three years provided it's City Owned Zoo with a Cost Of Living increase to the management fee paid to the Zoological Society.  It remains at $4 million annually since 1993, an amount that with increase should be over $9 million by today's calculation.

*After thirty-three years, in May 2026, The City gave a "bailout" Loan to it's City Owned Zoo.  A Loan that is to be repaid, out of the $4 mil fee, that according to the Zoo, zeros out in money paid to the City for various obligations.  

*In relation to providing this loan to their Own Zoo, The City ran the numbers on three scenarios that would affect their financially responsibility in the future... City Managed Zoo ($109 mil), Zoo Closure ($45 mil), and New Non-Profit Operator ($42 mil).  

I would guess both Lion and Chimpanzee enclosures would cost less than half of the lowest scenario figure, which is comparable to the $18 mil in City funds reportedly being allocated for this unnecessary pavilion structure.  

In my opinion, The City has shown NO interest in wanting to Invest in Our Zoo.  They own the Zoo, and have recognized the financial cost to them if the Zoo does not succeed under the new leadership.

I previously posted this quote from Supervisor Myrna Melgar, "I don’t think we have a choice,”  “People don’t realize these animals and this land belong to The City.  If the Zoo operator no longer exists, it becomes our responsibility to feed the animals three times a day.”

That said, Why then does The City refuse to help Our Zoo thrive?  I'm not talking about a Loan the Zoo may not even be able to repay, I'm talking about an Investment in Our City Owned Zoo's future.  In the very least to keep Our Lions and Our Chimpanzees from leaving.  And right now, I'm talking about fairness in how City funds are dispersed.  

As noted I will research the $18 mil in public funding of this disgrace.  I have recently started using ChatGPT to do research, as it can find public based documentation, and sort it specific to what I want to present, in literal seconds. The initial information generated is far more than I want to use mental energy on right now.  Maybe later.  When, I can't predict, but I feel there's a continuation of this, because I'm outraged.

I hope I'm not alone.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Related Posts:

*Should The City Feel Some Obligation To Invest In Our Zoo? ...Invest In Our Lions?

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2026/09/should-city-feel-some-obligation-to.html

*If The Zoo Had The Funds Pt One - Why Can't Our Lions & Chimpanzees Stay Here?

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2026/10/if-zoo-had-funds-pt-one-why-cant-our.html

*All My Posts Regarding The Zoo Seeking To Rehome Our Lions & Chimpanzees

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2026/10/all-my-posts-regarding-zoo-seeking-to.html

> 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.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Blogger's Statement

"Personal Opinions and Facts presented publicly are Not against the law or any rules. ... Censorship and Retaliation Actions in an attempt at Suppression are frowned upon by Healthy Societies."

For Full Statement see this post:

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/09/my-zoo-status.html

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

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