Senator: LR Zoo not an issue this session

By

Make no mistake. Incoming Senate President Bob Johnson is no fan of the Little Rock Zoo or its current location near Interstate 630, but he says he won't be the one to monkey around with it.

Johnson, D-Bigelow, advocates turning the zoo property and next-door Ray Winder Field into a "research corridor," but says it's a long-term issue, not something he'll introduce in the upcoming legislative session, which starts Monday.

"Look, nobody wants to take away the zoo. But if we're going to have one, how about trying this novel idea - how about having one we're proud of?" he asked. "That thing is a dated, landlocked zoo that needs to be improved. If we're going to do that, let's make a commitment from the state and have a state zoo."

The city zoo is located in midtown Little Rock, near the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

"Fact of the matter is, we can have better. This is a time to stop trying to make hay out of some silly subject matter and start giving some very serious thought to urban planning and what's going to be going on 10 years from now," he said.

Gov. Mike Beebe said he and his wife, Ginger, were "big fans" of the zoo and he wouldn't support getting rid of it.

Johnson made the comments Tuesday to members of the Arkansas Associated Press Managing Editors Association, the Arkansas Associated Press Broadcasters Association and the Arkansas pro chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

Johnson offered up some comic relief when he asked a room full of reporters, editors and broadcasters if they'd been to the zoo lately. The room sat silent for several seconds until incoming House Speaker Robbie Wills sheepishly raised his hand. "I have a 7-year-old daughter," the Democrat from Conway said.

Beebe drew chuckles when asked the same question: "I work in it every day."

For more information see Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.