The Zoo is a special place. I remember many times going as a young child and even now as an adult I love spending the day at the zoo with family or friends. As a young child, I didn't realize the importance of the zoo and never thought much about it. I only cared that we had a zoo to go to. 

 

 Recently, I began to reminisce about my years going to the zoo with family and thought how special is was to have a place to go and see the animals, learn about them, and grasp an understanding how what it is like for them in the wild. I thought about how some people might never see these types of animals had the never visited a zoo. I thought about the many jobs that zoos bring to a city and how thankful they must be to be provided one.

 

 I studied the children's faces light up with joy as they saw the monkies and alligators. I watched the children play on the playground, sliding on trays, and rolling down the hill. I saw many children playing in the splash pad with beach balls and chasing each other around and around. They were simply enjoying a day outside in the sunshine, smiling and loving life. 

 

 I believe the importance of a zoo can sometimes be overlooked or unthought of. Sometimes it takes being an adult and going back those places from your childhood to understand their importance.