I really struggled between a 2 or 3 star. I went w...

I really struggled between a 2 or 3 star. I went with 3 stars because if you have kids, this seems like it could be a nice little family spot due to the activities that were available.

TL;DR: The animals seemed stressed, the enclosures seemed sub par and some poorly maintained, overall poor experience, and parking is a nightmare.

Before we got there, I wondered how a zoo so close to the city could have the space for good enclosures. And I was right to have concerns. Honestly, I wasn't very happy with the enclosure size and quality of the enclosures themselves. The aquarium section had quite a few dead fish in various tanks and some of the tanks were poorly maintained to the point of not being able to see into them very well. Again enclosures seemed pretty small, and some of them even had trash in them (assuming this is due to patrons that lack the ability to throw their trash in the proper bin). Some of the animals were exhibiting behavior that was indicative of them being stressed or left in confined conditions for extended periods (pacing, labored breathing), although I admit it is possible these animals could have been rescued from worse conditions and perhaps that was driving the behavior. But it makes me wonder what their pens are like behind the enclosures. Instead of coming here and being filled with wonder, I was filled with sadness. I'm sure the caretakers do their best with what they are given, but I think I'm surprised that a zoo with the city's name on it isn't better maintained...then again, look at our infrastructure. Unfortunately, I will not be returning. I would rather drive a longer distance for something of better quality. Maybe my expectations were high from some reviews, but for me the visit just wasn't pleasant.

Oh, also, parking was an absolute nightmare. There are no parking attendants, so people just choose to park wherever they please, even if it means blocking people in, parking on the grass, or blocking driving areas. I would rather pay for parking and not have to worry about someone damaging my car or blocking me in just because they can't find a spot.