3 minute read
Coming out of the cage
ZooTampa and The Florida Aquarium will open with limited capacity.
By Ray Roa
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Two of Tampa’s most popular tourist attractions have plans to reopen, with one getting going as soon as Mother’s Day. The Florida Aquarium in downtown Tampa will reopen to the public on Friday, May 15 with “strict limits on attendance and programming.”
That’s according to a press release sent on Tuesday, which adds that the facility is implementing new standard operating procedures to enhance health, safety and safeguards when it comes to its guests, staff and animals. Part of those procedures include attendance limits to promote social distancing, online only ticket sales, touchless transactions and the continued closure of animal touch tacks and outdoor play areas.
The Florida Aquarium—located at 701 Channelside Dr. near Sparkman Wharf—closed on March 16 due to the novel coronavirus.
Admission to the aquarium will require an online reservation, which the public can begin to make on May 7. A separate email to members says that passholders—who’ll also have to make reservations on a first-come, first-served basis—can return on Sunday, May 10 (Mother’s Day) and Monday, May 11.
Other safety measures include required mask-wearing for staff (guests are encouraged to wear masks), no water fountains (guests may bring their own bottle) and pre-paid parking. No strollers or wheelchairs will be available for rent either.
In an email Florida Aquarium President and CEO Roger German told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that at the beginning, 150 people an hour will be allowed to enter the facility, which accounts to about 12.5% of total building capacity.
"Currently there are no time restrictions, however we will continue to evaluate to ensure physical distancing," German added.
German also said that no employees were furloughed in the fallout surrounding the coronavirus, but that his nonprofit did not even remotely dodge the financial hard hits that've been dealt to so many in the Bay area.
"Last year, during March and April combined The Florida Aquarium welcomed roughly 175,000 visitors. This March they only had 30,000 before the closure," German said. "Revenue wise, The Florida Aquarium generated over $5 million in visitation-related revenue (turnstile revenues and memberships) last March and April; only $1 million this year. So comparing March and April in 2019 and 2020 attendance dropped 83% and revenue from attendance and memberships dropped 78%."
Don’t go looking for the aquarium’s beloved Goliath grouper, Cleatus, however, because the fish—who made his debut at the aquarium’s opening day 25 years ago—was announced dead on Monday. He was estimated to be 30 years old.
“We have been preparing for our re-opening for several weeks,” Andy Wood, The Florida Aquarium’s Chief Operating Officer, said in the release. “We will continue to coordinate with local, state and federal agencies and public health officials and are prepared to make any and all adjustments necessary now and after we open, to maintain the highest standards of health and safety for all.”
Landlubbers can get in on the animal actions, too.
ZooTampa at Lowry Park has plans to reopen to the public on or about June 1 with limited capacity and “protocols designed to help ensure public safety whilealso restoring the community benefits of sensibly reopening businesses and outdoor spaces.”
ZooTampa is the first local attraction to announce a reopening date. A 17-page plan submitted to county and city officials on May 1 says capacity at the zoo will be limited to 50%; indoor spaces at the zoo will have a 25% capacity. Six-foot social distancing will be required along with thermal monitoring stations at the zoo’s single point of entry.
The zoo closed to visitors on March 16, but retained all full and part-time staff.
ZooTampa is also providing personal protective equipment (PPE) to employees and offering disposable masks to any guest free of charge. Groups of more than 10 people are also not allowed.
“We’ve all felt the anxiety and stress of the pandemic on people, including children.” Joe Couceiro, president and CEO of ZooTampa, said in a release.
“Outdoor riences connectingnature and wildlife are healing and bring comfort to people. The Zoo can provide restorative family experiences that are within the recommended guidelines for controlling the spread of COVID-19.”
So, yeah, if you’ve felt like a caged animal during quarantine, don’t worry, you’ll be able to visit some real animals in captivity very soon.
More information is available via flaquarium.org and zootampa.org.
