Dickerson Park Zoo

Established by the Springfield Park Board in 1922, Dickerson Park Zoo was initially developed with the help of WPA labor and funds in the 1930s. From then until the 1970s, very little development or support occurred, and by 1975, the zoo had become a run-down liability to the City of Springfield. The zoo was on the verge of being closed, but a commitment was made by the City and a newly formed support group now known as Friends of the Zoo to save the zoo. The next 10 years marked significant improvements and a repositioning of the zoo as a valuable cultural asset to the community. The Friends organization developed a membership base, launched education programs, and garnered support of donors for new projects and improvements. The City of Springfield committed budget dollars and instituted an admission fee to help offset expenses. The zoo, located on a beautiful tract of land with much potential, had been saved. Now it was time to plan an orderly approach to its future.

Dickerson Park Zoo is dedicated to enhancing our quality of life while preserving the abundance and diversity of life on earth by:

Providing meaningful recreational experiences;
Educating the public through exhibition of animals, organized programs and activities that will increase awareness, appreciation of, and respect for nature;
Conserving animals and plants through the propagation and maintenance of zoo collections and involvement in the protection and management of natural areas and wild populations;
Conducting scientific studies that add to our knowledge of the natural world.

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