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Get Involved: Awards Program 2011 Heritage Award - Honorable Mention Delta Sonic Heritage Farm at the Buffalo Zoo The third oldest zoo in the country tapped into Buffalo’s canal history as the focus of its new children’s exhibit: the Delta Sonic Heritage Farm. Opened in 2010, the family-friendly exhibit depicts life on a small family farm located on the banks of the Erie Canal in the mid-1800s.
Combining fun and recreation with history and environmental education, the exhibit has the potential to share the rich history of the Erie Canal with 420,000 zoo visitors annually, including nearly every fifth grader from the Buffalo City School District. The exposure to Buffalo’s heritage makes perfect sense in a city whose very existence is owed to the canal.
Focus on Heritage Children play aboard a three-quarter scale canal boat, try out a lock model, or don an apron to collect eggs and sweep the barn. It feels real because of the project team’s emphasis on authenticity. The exhibit features an historic barn originally located along the canal that was dismantled board by board and reconstructed on site. Heritage breeds of crops and farm animals, including a mule (of course), and landscaping with native plants bring the farm to life. Smart Funding Zoo staff created win-win partnerships with funders to match their goals with the interests of investors. Erie County contributed $1 million as an investment in cultural tourism and quality of life benefits for city residents. NYSOPRHP awarded a $400,000 Environmental Protection Fund grant for the zoo’s ability to attract underserved audiences, preserve a historic barn, and fit within larger Canalway and City planning frameworks. And the Benderson Family Foundation (Delta Sonic) found the exhibit’s emphasis on water conservation a perfect match for its corporate goal to save water. Serving Underserved Audiences The high value and low cost of attending the Buffalo Zoo as a recreational destination attracts many visitors from underserved communities. For the large, inner city population of Buffalo, the Zoo may provide the only chance to enjoy a farm experience and imagine life along the Erie Canal. Creative Problem Solving Combining historic and contemporary elements of the exhibit was no small feat. The project team creatively merged modern standards for safety, traffic flow, and animal care while restoring the barn. Zoo staff also tested educational themes with a focus group of parents and teachers. The Heritage Farm presents a nurturing atmosphere that teaches children to care for animals and their habitats. |
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| Buffalo Zoo 300 Parkside Avenue Buffalo, NY 14214 716-837-3900 Visit buffalo zoo >> |
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