History Of The Zoo
Who was John Ball?
John Ball was quite a guy! Born in 1794 in New Hampshire, he was a teacher,
a lawyer, a realtor, an explorer, an adventurer, a legislator, and the man
who gave the original 40 acres to create John Ball Park. John Ball had many
adventures in his life. One took him to Ft. Vancouver where he became the
first schoolteacher and the first non-native American farmer. If you're ever
in Portland, you'll see a statue honoring John Ball as a pioneer.
When was the John Ball statue placed
in the park?
In 1925, the city of Grand Rapids honored John Ball by commissioning a statue
of him to be placed in John Ball Park. The bronze statue was sculpted by Pompeo
Coppini and based on a design submitted by a local school girl. The statue
represents John Ball and two of his children.
How did the Zoo begin?
Upon his death in 1884, John Ball left 40 acres of land to the City of Grand
Rapids to be used as a park. At the time of the gift, the city fathers were
skeptical of its value.
However by the 1890's what was then known as the Ball 40 had become the "Central Park" of Grand Rapids.
1891 city commission records provide the first mention of animals at the park.
A debate occurred as to whether money should be allocated to purchase some
animals to supplement the orphaned and injured animals currently being housed
by park workers at the Ball 40. Though the city fathers decided to not use
city funds, several of them chipped in from their own pockets and purchased
a few animals for what would become the Zoo.
John Ball Park became the official name and the City purchased the land surrounding the original 40 acres to increase its size to 140 acres. In 1905 the budget for John Ball Park was $5000. The next highest budget for a city park was $80. A conservatory, a dance parlor, bandstand, carriage trails, swimming pool, formal gardens and, of course, the Zoo made it the most popular recreational spot in the city.
During the Depression, the Zoo fell on hard times. Most of the collection was given to other zoos. Some animals, the buffalo and deer, were butchered to help feed the poor and only a few aging animals remained.
How did the Zoo manage to recover after
the Depression?
In 1949, Katherine Whinery, a resident of Grand Rapids and a zoo lover, became
determined to form a Zoo Society and resurrect the John Ball Zoo. She met
with the mayor and asked for help and guidance. An invitation was sent to
every service club in Grand Rapids asking for one member to attend a meeting
to discuss rebuilding the Zoo. The City offered to hire a zoo director, rebuild
and maintain the Zoo if the private citizens would form an organization to
assist with private contributions and support to offset the cost of building
new exhibits and purchasing animals. The result of this meeting was the formation
of the John Ball Zoological Society.
In 1949 Fred Meyer, who had been working at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, was hired as the first zoo director. The first "new" exhibit also was built and opened--Monkey Island. Through the 50's and 60's, a new Zoo was built in John Ball Park. The entire community worked hard to build a good zoo.
In 1979, the Zoo Society and the City created a Zoo Master Plan to renovate and expand the Zoo over the next 20 years. The Plan was divided into four phases. The first phase was devoted to renovation of the older core of the Zoo and was completed in 1985.
As a result of the renovations, in 1983 John Ball Zoo became the first zoo
in Michigan to receive accreditation by the American Association of Zoos and
Aquariums.
When did the County of Kent purchase
the John Ball Zoological Garden?
In 1986, new construction plans were put on hold while the City and the County
carried on several years of study and negotiation to find a way to better
fund the cultural facilities in the City. In 1989, the County purchased the
Zoo and the Park.
How far along is the Zoo's Master Plan now?
Once County ownership was established, plans began again to continue the work
of the Master Plan. Phase II and Phase III were considered and conceptualized.
A fund drive was initiated to raise $20 million for expansion. Phase II was
completed in May of 1996 with the opening of the African Forest Edge Exhibit.
The Living Shores Aquarium, Bald Eagle Aviary, new concession plaza and ramping
system had all been completed in 1995.
Phase III is currently underway. The Zoo's new animal hospital was constructed and opened spring of 1999. Also in 1999 the upper hilltop picnic area was restored and reopened to the public.
The Mokomoboso Valley Chimpanzee Exhibit opened May 25, 2001. Phase III also
includes a new entrance for the Zoo and the Giant Steps Exhibit which includes
elephants. It is anticipated that Phase III will be completed in 2005.
From the beginning, the Zoo has been a tremendous partnership between the community and the governmental authority owning the Zoo. Private citizens have always been the heart behind the Zoo and have always found the support required for the Zoo to move forward.
Mission Statement
The mission of the John Ball Zoo is to help all individuals gain information about, respect for, and an understanding of the animal kingdom by providing a quality zoological facility that promotes good animal husbandry, provides diverse educational opportunities, actively participates in local, state, and national conservation and research programs and achieves a significant breeding and reproductive record.