By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
When you talk quality of life amenities in Great Bend, there are very
few bigger than the free Brit Spaugh Zoo. The zoo is on the 10-year masterplan
to receive funding from the .15% quality of life sales tax. Zoo Curator Ashley Burdick said one
of the projects the zoo anticipates accomplishing with the sales tax money is
to replace the lion viewing windows.
"They're pretty dated," said Burdick. "It's kind of hard to see through because water got down in there. We're replacing the two windows with one big window. To do that, we have to make sure we have thick, laminated glass so it's safe."
The zoo staff also plans for additional fencing, replacing wooden posts with
metal at the bison viewing and shade structure, improvements to the butterfly
garden and updating the Jamaican Boa area.
"Safety is our biggest focus," said Burdick. "Fencing needs to be replaced. The wooden fencing that keeps people separate from the actual exhibits, some of that is getting dated. Safety determines the priority on projects."
Each year between 2023 and 2031, the zoo will be allocated $30,000 from the quality
of life sales tax, a $270,000 total over that time stretch.