Council OKs New Children’s Area at Zoo

One of the most popular parts of the Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park is going to get bigger. The City Council approved plans this week for a new two-acre children’s zoo.

The $1-million project will be financed through fund-raising efforts by the Friends of the Santa Ana Zoo.

Zoo officials recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of the new $100,000 zoo train, which was also paid for through the fund-raising efforts of the nonprofit organization.

Leslie Perovich, executive director of the Friends of the Santa Ana Zoo, said that 60,000 people have already ridden the train, which will encircle the new children’s zoo. She also reported that construction will begin this month on a new depot for the train, which is being built for free by Camarillo Construction.

“The people in the community have been really supportive of the zoo and its programs,” Perovich said “It’s incredible.”

Additional design services for the new children’s zoo are being donated by William Hezmalhalch, who is creating the architectural drawings for the construction, and Dan Herman, who is tackling the architectural landscaping.

Perovich said that construction will begin this fall. The new area will include a two-story barn with educational meeting rooms, an open kitchen where kids can watch zookeepers take care of animals, and a baby chick incubator.

The new area will be in the southwest corner of the zoo and will have a North American farmyard theme, in stark contrast to the main zoo’s South American theme.

“When you walk into this new children’s pavilion, it will almost be like a separate land,” Perovich said. “The rest of the zoo is there, but you’re in your own little area, so it should complement the rest of the zoo quite nicely.”

Once construction on the children’s area is complete, Perovich said, the nonprofit organization will begin working to raise the $500,000 needed for a new carousel and a pony ride operation.

Donors can contact Perovich at (714) 953-8555.

Chris Ceballos can be reached at (714) 966-7440.