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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #1533 |
| Safari Lodge at Lowry Park Zoo |
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| Requester: |
C. Lex Salisbury, President/CE |
Organization: |
Lowry Park Zoological Society of Tampa, Inc. |
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| Project Title: |
Safari Lodge at Lowry Park Zoo |
Date Submitted |
1/14/2005 3:50:08 PM |
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| Sponsors: |
Crist |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| The purpose of this Community Budget Request is to improve the business capacity of Lowry Park Zoo, the top-attended nonprofit attraction in Florida, to enable Lowry Park Zoo to operate as a model of self-sufficiency as a nonprofit organization in the State of Florida. Lowry Park Zoo is the number one family-friendly zoo in the U.S. (Child magazine) and recognized by the State of Florida as a center for wildlife conservation and biodiversity (HB457). Lowry Park Zoo serves 860,000 annual visitors and 137,000 school-age children. |
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| Recipient: |
Lowry Park Zoological Society of Tampa, Inc. |
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Contact: |
C. Lex Salisbury, President/CE |
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1101 W. Sligh Avenue |
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Contact Phone: |
(813) 244-0141 |
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Tampa, FL 33604 |
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Contact email: |
lex.salisbury@lowryparkzoo.com |
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| Counties: |
Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk |
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| Gov't Entity: |
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Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
Yes |
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| Project Description: |
| The Safari Lodge at Lowry Park Zoo, showpiece of the 11.5-acre Safari Africa exhibit area, will provide Lowry Park Zoo an African-themed structure that will feature classroom and rental areas and a restaurant facility. The Lodge will replicate an actual safari lodge and will feature African d�cor and showcase artifacts of cultural significance that will also serve as educational props for classroom activities. |
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| Is this a project related to 2004 hurricane damage? |
No |
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| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| Funding will be used to construct the kitchen, main dining hall, and classroom/sleepover/rental area to generate earned revenue. The spacious building (total cost: $3 million) will overlook elephant exhibits and African savannah, and will afford program participants and dining guests an up-close view of Lowry Park Zoo African wildlife in outdoor exhibits year-round. |
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| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$1,000,000 |
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| Total cost of the project: |
$3,500,000 |
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| Request has been made to fund: |
Construction |
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| What type of match exists for this project? |
Private |
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Cash Amount |
$2,500,000 |
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| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
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No |
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| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
No |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
Park Zoo's Strategic Plan; Economic Review by Economics Research Associates |
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| Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)? |
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Yes |
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Hearing Body: |
Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation |
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Hearing Meeting Date: |
01/19/2005 |
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| Is this a water project as described in Section 403.885, Laws of Florida? |
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No |
