Mesquite Park Zoo reports March attendance surge, new penguin chicks and urgent boiler repair

At the April meeting of the Mesquite Park Zoo and Botanic Garden Advisory Board, Zoo Director Eric Beck reported that March attendance totaled about 19,000 visitors, that three penguin chicks hatched this month and that zoo operations face several staff vacancies and a failing steam boiler in an older building.

Beck emphasized the financial and operational context behind the numbers: “We did $39,000 in sales for the month,” he said, referring to gift-shop revenue, and reported gross revenue for March of about $145,000. He said the zoo’s busiest single day during the month drew roughly 3,500 visitors, and a spring-break membership promotion produced more than 900 new or renewed memberships in a five-day period.

Those attendance and sales figures matter because they help fund operations and projects, Beck said. The zoo is budgeting two equipment projects from recent casino-generated revenues: replacement of sensors…