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 and the control dashboard in the Amazonia exhibit (vendor: Trane) and possible work to address a failed steam boiler that heats the clay building, an original 1954 radiator-steam system. Beck told the board the boiler failed suddenly and that staff are weighing options including a replacement, downsizing the steam system or converting to forced-air heat for parts of the building.

Staffing and animal updates

Beck told the board the zoo currently has an open zookeeper position and is accepting applications; he also said the director-of-animals role remains open but that he has candidates to interview. On the facilities side, the zoo is recruiting for a facility manager and a maintenance technician.

On animal care, Beck reported three penguin chicks, one of which is already moving away from parents, and said a colobus monkey is being monitored and is expected to give birth “any day.” He also said the zoo received two female François’ langurs from the Los Angeles Zoo; with the additions, the Discovery Center troop now numbers four.

Upcoming events and other business

Beck reviewed several spring events: Party for the Planet (Earth Day) on Saturday, April 12, which will include conservation vendors and a U.S.I. alumni day at the zoo; a member-preview party on May 2 ahead of a plant sale the first full weekend in May; and Zoo Brew, a ticketed fundraiser on June 14. He said the Amazonia control-system replacement and other projects are funded from 2024 and 2025 casino dollars.

Salary and procurement process

In response to a board question about pay, Beck described the city’s salary process: adjustments begin with a request to the mayor’s office, go to the local Salary Allocation Committee (mayor, controller, a city council finance member, the HR director and departmental representation) and, if approved, require city council action to provide funding. He also notified the board that the parks department will open sealed bids for a new full-size pickup truck at the parks board meeting on April 16; that item was presented as a notification, not for board action at this meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes from March 2025: motion seconded and approved by voice vote. - Approval to close the zoo early on June 14 for Zoo Brew (close at 1 p.m. to set up; event is ticketed): motion seconded and approved unanimously by voice vote. - Approval to close the zoo early for Members Appreciation Night (member preview): motion seconded and approved unanimously by voice vote.

The board spent about an hour on operational updates and logistics before moving to other agenda items and then adjourning.

Ending: The zoo director asked whether members had further questions; hearing none, the meeting proceeded to new-business items and adjourned after routine notifications.