During the meeting’s public-comment period, Glenn Schwartz, president of nonprofit Words of Hope for Life, urged the Wayne County Zoological Authority to help expand county engagement with Viewfest 2026, an annual free festival held at the Detroit Zoo.

Schwartz said the event has grown considerably and is supported through corporate sponsorships and community partners. "It's called View Fest... It has grown to become the largest mental health and prevention festival in the entire world," Schwartz said, and he asked the board to help ensure Wayne County families have access by coordinating outreach and ticketing with county partners.

Chair Bell thanked Schwartz, said the board had not previously been aware of the event’s scope, and said he would forward Schwartz’s email to the board members and encouraged staff to share information as the date approaches.

Schwartz requested collaboration particularly on outreach and the targeted ticketing strategies the zoo discussed earlier in the meeting; he also thanked zoo staff for their role as a venue and community partner.