Buttonwood Park Zoo to Reopen in June

According to a press release from Sarah Henry, the Development and Marketing Officer at Buttonwood Park Zoological Society, Buttonwood Park Zoo will be reopening during the first phase of Governor Baker’s plan to reopen the state. BPZOO will welcome back the public on Wednesday, June 3, after 12 weeks of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The zoo moves to reduced hours and days of operation, as well as a strict ticket time for entry to control guest capacity, with admissions allowed every half hour due to COVID-19.

“BPZOO will be open from 9 am until 5 pm, with the last admission at 4 pm, from Wednesday through Sunday until further notice. The Zoo will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays for deep cleaning. Timed-based admission will be utilized to limit capacity and all tickets, for members and non-members, must be reserved online at bpzoo.org/purchase-tickets. There will be no cash handling on site. In accordance with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts guidelines, protective face coverings are required for all guests over the age of 2.

‘We are very excited to reopen the Zoo for the community,’ said Buttonwood Park Zoo Director, Keith Lovett.  ‘During our closure, Zoo staff have been diligently working to make modifications to our grounds and our operating policies to allow guests the ability to socially distance during their visit.’

The visitor experience at BPZOO has been reconfigured to meet current public health guidelines. BPZOO has implemented measures to encourage social distancing among guests and staff and to protect our animals. Additionally, indoor areas will be temporarily closed during Phase One of reopening. This includes Rainforests, Rivers & Reefs, Buttonwood Farm barn, and the North Wood Gift Store. A limited number of gift store items will be available for sale at an outdoor kiosk during your visit. The Wildlife Carousel, Baycoast Bank Black Bear Express, and Charlie’s Nature Play area will be temporarily closed per State guidelines.  For a complete look at what to expect, visit www.bpzoo.org/reopening/

‘Although the experience may be a little different during our Phase One reopening, we are confident that a Zoo visit will continue to be an enjoyable, family-oriented activity that allows guests to gain a better appreciation of wildlife and the importance of endangered species conservation,’ Lovett went on to say.”

I'm so glad to see the zoo will reopen next week. My nephew, Hudson, has missed his favorite spot on the SouthCoast and can't wait to go back. This might be a good time to introduce our beloved zoo to our other nephew, Landon. Don't worry, we'll all have our masks.

Click HERE for more information about the Zoo’s programs, animals and exhibits.