Parks committee approves Hillcrest Park Zoo sponsorship tiers; staff readies website, ZAA application and enclosure work

The Clovis Parks, Recreation and Beautification Committee on Monday approved a new tiered sponsorship program for Hillcrest Park Zoo and received a series of operational updates from zoo staff, including a planned website launch, an expanded giraffe enclosure project and work toward ZAA accreditation.

Zoo supervisor Stephanie (last name not provided) presented the sponsorship tiers the committee approved, saying the program will offer multiple giving categories — “owl” at $500, “wolf” at $1,000, “camel” at $5,000, “giraffe” at $10,000 and “tiger” at $15,000 — and that sponsorships would be two-year commitments paid annually under contract. She told the committee the city plans a single, prominent sponsorship display at the zoo entrance (described as a “sponsorship tree”) that will list donors by tier rather than affixing plaques at individual animal enclosures. “This will be something that they pay yearly,” Stephanie said, describing how sponsorship commitments will be managed through signed forms.

Committee members clarified the difference between general sponsorships and the zoo’s separate animal-adoption program. Staff said animal adoptions (for example, adopting the fox or lemurs) remain a distinct program and can be offered at flexible price points; adoptions will appear on the zoo website and, at higher adoption levels, include in-person experiences. Staff described the adoption program as open to any donation level and said donations above $1,000 would include a behind-the-scenes experience with the adopted animal, while the use of physical plaques has not yet been decided.

Stephanie also gave a progress report on other zoo priorities. The city has contracted with a web developer and purchased the domain hillcrestparkzoo.com; staff expect the site to host ticket sales, encounters, sponsorships and adoption forms. She said she will meet the developer the day after the meeting to review the site before launch.

Staff announced the zoo recently acquired a Major Mitchell cockatoo named Valentine and noted the new bird (an Australian cockatoo with pink plumage) will be on public view when temperatures exceed 55 degrees. The committee heard that the Albuquerque and El Paso zoos have provided technical support; El Paso has offered to mentor Clovis through accreditation processes. Stephanie said the zoo is pursuing ZAA (Zoological Association of America) accreditation, describing the application as “a good 181-page application” and saying she hopes to complete the process by October. She added El Paso and Albuquerque staff are assisting with policy review and on-site drills to prepare the zoo team and first responders.

Finally, staff described a small capital project to expand the giraffe enclosure and install a guest feeding platform to allow closer viewing of the animals, including a giraffe named Jerica. Construction work on the enclosure was scheduled to begin the week following the meeting, with additional barn work planned in coming weeks.

The committee voted to approve the sponsorship tiers and related recommendation as presented. The motion carried with committee approval; no member registered opposition.

Committee members and staff emphasized clarity between sponsorship and adoption options, flexibility for prospective donors, and continued coordination with external zoos and public-safety partners as the zoo pursues accreditation and operational upgrades.