By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – It’s often thought of as a good problem to have – not enough parking for customers.

Miller Park Zoo director Jay Tetzloff told WJBC’s Susan Saunders mild weather and special events such as the Polar Plunge have brought out big crowds to the zoo in recent weeks, leaving a major parking shortage.

PODCAST: Listen to Susan’s interview with Tetzloff on WJBC.

“That’s a big thing for us,” Tetzloff said. “I know people don’t come to the zoo on some days because you can’t find a spot to park. That’s a big problem for us.”

Tetzloff said the parking problem was on track to being fixed when the state approved a $700,000 grant for the zoo, which also would have paid for added concessions and a new monkey exhibit.

“It was the largest gift in our history and then as all voted for (Bruce) Rauner as governor and that state grant went away or was delayed,” Tetzloff said. “That’s huge for us because that’s an additional parking lot which we desperately need.”

That grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources remains on hold because of the state budget stalemate. Tetzloff says the zoo already spend $31,000 on architectural designs for the monkey exhibit that’s currently in limbo.

Stampede

Miller Park Zoo will be on full display during its Zoo Stampede this weekend. The Miller Park Zoological Society’s 19th annual 5k run, 3k walk, and fun run through the zoo begin at 10 a.m. Saturday.

More information is available on the Miller Park Zoological Society website.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].