Renovations to zoo create ‘hands-on’ experience for kids

June 25, 2012

Photos courtesy Roger Williams Park Zoo

Children run through the fountains in the “Drip Drop Water Garden.” The water garden is part of Roger Williams Park Zoo’s new Hasboro’s “Our Big Backyard” exhibit, which opened June 4.

PROVIDENCE – After undergoing major renovations, which include new exhibits, a veterinary hospital and a children’s zoo, Roger Williams Park Zoo celebrated the opening of Hasboro’s “Our Big Backyard,” earlier this month.

The ribbon was cut at the latest addition to the Zoo’s renovation project, an outdoor play and exploration area for children of all abilities.

“Roger Williams Park Zoo continues to be one of Providence’s greatest treasures and a much loved educational and recreational resource for our city residents and for the state and region as a whole,” Providence Mayor Angel Taveras said in a statement. “The opening of Hasbro’s Our Big Backyard and the CVS Caremark Tree House serves to make our great Zoo even better, especially for our children.”

The new exhibit was a hit with children and their families in its second week.

“It’s beautiful, amazing and clean,” said Christina Wilson of Doylestown, Pa. Wilson grew up in Narragansett, and said that she expected that the space still held the butterfly exhibit, but was pleasantly surprised to find the “backyard.”

“It’s important to get this element of hands-on learning for kids,” she said.

Hasbro’s Our Big Backyard features three major exhibit components: “Our House,” “Our Backyard” and “Beyond the Fence.” Our House includes an indoor activity space. Our Backyard, is an outdoor play space staffed by Zoo volunteers who help kids make the most of the “The Drip Drop Water Garden,” “The Sticks & Stones Building Zone” and the “Creativity Corner.”

By venturing through a “hole” in the backyard fence, Zoo visitors will find themselves Beyond the Fence where children are encouraged to play and explore along a nature trail. At the end of the trail they will reach the tree house, which is packed with interactive play features. The Zoo hopes to expand the Beyond the Fence aspect of the exhibit through the addition of animals by 2014.

Parents looked on as their kids explored and played in the backyard. The water exhibits were especially popular on a warm June day.

“We think it’s great,” said Kaleena Roch of Coventry and Kate-Lynn Dillon of Burrillville.

“It’s relaxing for parents,” Dillon said, as she and Roch chatted while watching their kids.

“The kids are having a lot of fun,” Roch added.

Zoo volunteers and staff members have received postitive comments about the new exhibit.

“We get a lot of parents who say they’re glad to bring their kids here once they’re tired of seeing animals,” said Lyndsey Ursillo, Zoo volunteer. Ursillo said her favorite part of the exhibit is the water wall.

“I like watching kids try to figure out which tubes work which elements,” she said.

The play space was funded by a grant from the Hasboro Children’s Fund along with CVS Caremark All Kids Can, The Champlin Foundations, The Rhode Island Foundation, funds from individual donors and state general obligation bonds approved by Rhode Island voters in 2006.

“This exhibit was designed to give our guests, and especially young children and their families, greater appreciation for outdoor play, nature and wildlife here in New England,” Zoo Executive Director Jack Mulvena said in a statement. “Equally important, we hope the exhibit experience acts as a bridge to encourage families to get outside and experience the many amazing opportunities for nature exploration right here in Rhode Island and throughout New England. We believe this to be so important for children’s health, learning and development.”

Hasbro’s Our Big Backyard is the third major project completed as part of the Zoo’s renovation plan, announced in 2006. The Fabric of Africa was completed in 2008, and the John J. Palumbo Veterinary Hospital opened in 2010.

If you go

Roger Williams Park Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and is located at 1000 Elmwood Ave., Providence.