Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoo And Masterplan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Michigan City Zoo reports lemur rescue, applies for playground grant as master‑plan work begins
Summary
Staff told the Parks Board that zoo director Jamie Hus transported nine rescue lemurs (one newborn) from Texas and that the department submitted a $75,000 grant application for Better's Alley Playground; the board also heard updates on master‑plan work and minor vandalism repairs.
At the April 1 meeting of the Michigan City Parks and Recreation Board, staff reported on recent zoo activity and capital‑planning steps.
Zoo director Jamie Hus arranged transport of nine rescue lemurs from Texas; staff reported that one lemur had a newborn during transport, and that the animals are in quarantine and appearing to adjust. The board was told there was no purchase cost for the animals; staff estimated typical lemur purchase prices might range from $1,500 to $3,000 per animal but characterized these particular animals as donated.
Staff said they had submitted a $75,000 grant application to First Source Bank to fund Better's Alley Playground; award notifications are expected in the first week of June. The department also is beginning stakeholder engagement and surveys for a 2027–2035 master plan required for eligibility for Land and Water Conservation Fund grants; staff plans public outreach and one‑on‑one stakeholder interviews with local nonprofits, youth providers and city officials and set November 15 as the submission deadline for the DNR plan.
Separately, staff reported a vandalism incident at Pullman that damaged an electrical ground box; the repair cost was reported as $242.
The board received the updates as informational and did not take separate formal action on them at the meeting.
