Bill > K00273

This resolution commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Ross Park Zoo in Binghamton, New York, recognizing its significant contributions to wildlife conservation, science, and community engagement. The zoo, which was originally established in 1875 on a 90-acre plot donated by businessman Erastus Ross, is the fifth oldest zoological institution in the United States. After experiencing a decline in visitors due to increased automobile use and facing potential closure by the USDA, the Southern Tier Zoological Society formed in 1966 and took over the zoo's operations in 1977, helping to revitalize and sustain the institution. Today, the Ross Park Zoo houses over 100 different species, provides conservation education, and serves more than 20,000 people in New York and Pennsylvania. To celebrate its milestone anniversary, the zoo has unveiled the America Together National Mural Mosaic, a collaborative art project featuring 150 individually painted tiles. The resolution congratulates the Ross Park Zoo for its 150 years of dedication to conservation and commitment to increasing awareness about the importance of protecting wildlife, and directs that a copy of the resolution be transmitted to the zoo.

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/K273