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Park board approves 2026 zoo fees; staff to study credit-card and parking options
Summary
The board approved 2026 Washington Park Zoo fees Oct. 15, and staff discussed options to handle credit-card fees, a proposed parking validation program and small program changes to boost revenue.
The Michigan City Parks and Recreation Board voted Oct. 15 to adopt the proposed 2026 fee schedule for the Washington Park Zoo and heard staff explain program changes and operational issues, including credit-card processing, parking validation and a corrected resident age category.
Why it matters: Zoo admission and parking fees affect accessibility and revenue for Washington Park Zoo operations and programming.
Board action and staff overview The board approved the zoo's 2026 fees by motion and voice vote. Staff said the department added and removed some programs to increase accessibility and extend the season; examples include new offerings such as bridal encounters and one-on-one experiences, and the department removed programs that did not meet demand.
Credit-card fees Staff reported that credit-card processing accounted for about $20,000 in fees so far this year. The department has historically absorbed flat convenience fees but is looking at options to pass card costs to customers as a percentage at point of sale. Staff said the current point-of-sale system has constraints and that the department will explore whether their vendor (Square or replacement) can support percentage-based fees for ticketed transactions. Staff said they would revisit implementation in the spring if software updates or replacements allow automated percentage fees without excessive administrative burden.
Parking validation and admission categories Staff said they are exploring a parking-validation option to allow zoo visitors two hours of validated parking at Washington Park, responding to public complaints that parking costs deter visitors. A board member also identified a typographical issue on the published rate table: the Michigan City resident free admission category should read "age 1 and under" rather than "age 2 and under." Staff confirmed they would correct the published page.
Programs and revenue Staff said some animal-enrichment art (paintings) have been available in the zoo gift shop for several years and that new programs tied to the Wings of Wonder exhibit are expected to provide additional revenue. Staff told the board the department—s goal is to move the zoo toward breaking even and eventually supporting improvements.
Outcome and follow up The board approved the 2026 zoo fees. Staff will investigate POS capabilities for percentage-based credit-card surcharging, continue work on a parking-validation option, correct the resident age category in published materials and report back when there are feasible operational changes to present.
