Riverview Park & Zoo Launches Return to Full Schedule; Creates Fundraising Campaign For New Train Next Year
/Riverview Park & Zoo is celebrating their grand opening on Saturday with a return of all amenities and services while launching a fundraising campaign to replace the miniature locomotive projected for next year on Friday.
Donors Anne and Ross Dobbins conducting the first train ride of the season. The miniature train ride was first established in 1974 with the support of James Hamilton. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Amenities include the Kiwanis snack bar and miniature train rides that are in full operation from Victoria Day Weekend until Labour Day weekend. The zoo is open from 8:30 a.m. to dusk daily.
The grand re-opening family-friendly event includes the following:
10:00 a.m. Zoo Yoga - with Salty Yoga
10:00 a.m. Snack Shack opens
10:00 a.m. Gift Shop Market opens
11:00 a.m. Storytime in the Park
1:00 p.m. Bird-Friendly Trail Walks
3:00 p.m. Concert in the Park: Steve Waters and Cartwright Boundary
Draw for a zoo Swag Basket and an exclusive family/group tour
The 1974 miniature locomotive is running for its last year. The train will be replaced through a fundraiser known as the ‘Riverview Railway Capital Campaign.’ The zoo has already raised roughly 50 per cent of its total funding for the train from donors and prior fundraising efforts.
“In 1979, the company that made the train went out of business," said Jim Maloney, zoo manager and curator. "Finding replacement parts for it at this point is getting very difficult or very expensive. We don't want to be in a situation where we have a major breakdown and we don't have a train to offer to our visitors."
@ptbo_canada The Riverview Park & Zoo’s train is in its last year as they will try and get a new one for 2023! #ptbo #ptbocanada #zoo #train #minaturetrain #riverview #choochoo ♬ C'mon N' Ride It (The Train) - Quad City DJ's
