Utica Zoo Unveils New Playground Built With Mayor’s Charity Ball Funds

Utica, NY (WIBX) - Thanks to the Mayor's Charity Ball, The Utica Zoo has a new playground. The funds for the playground were raised during the 2010 Charity Ball. Mayor David and Cindy Roefaro were at hand this morning to unveil the playground that was constructed using 100-percent recycled material.

Cindy Roefaro said, "It's great because this is what our Ball was all about--for the children. Every Ball we had was money going towards the children of Utica and this is a grand way of celebrating and seeing our money well put." Mayor Roefaro chimed in saying, "Listen, this is just another piece of the puzzle, as I like to talk about it. Every Ball like my wife has said, all the money has gone towards the children." Roefaro who decided not to run for a second term says he and Cindy have discussed the possibility of continuing the Mayor's Charity Ball to raise money for area programs that serve kids. "We talked about it but we're going to see what the next administration wants to do but we'll always be advocates of Utica--that will never change," he said.

Utica Zoo Director, Andrea DeLisle-Heath says the soft ground cover comes from over 33,000 recycled tires from Oneida County, and the playground equipment came from the Buffalo Zoo when it decided to make a change. She said, "Why go new when we can use something that was someone else's treasure for a little while."  DeLisle-Heath also announced that Donovan, the new baby lion born on May 11th, is now in exhibit ready to accept visitors.