FY 2007 Budget - Forest Preserve District of Cook County

Key Strategy: Hallmark Animal Care
With the cooperation of Loyola University Medical Center, we pioneered diagnostic protocols for the
treatment of lung disease in marine mammals.
As part of the continuing work of the Conservation Medicine Center of Chicago, we participated with Cook
County Public Health and Forest Preserve District Wildlife Management officials to prepare protocols for
an avian flu outbreak.
We continued to pioneer and expand the use of Ethotrak, our program to document and monitor behaviors
on a multiple institution basis.
Through our pioneering endocrine assays, we successfully tracked estrus and pregnancy cycles for
aardvark, okapi, giraffe, Amur tiger, and other endangered species.
Preparations began for the five year accredition by the American Zoos and Aquarium Association.
Key Strategy: Institutional Advancement and Support
We accelerated Senate Bill 83 projects, with the continuing focus on structural improvements to the oldest
systems in the park. Over $19 million in active in-process and completed projects, with remaining projects
under evaluation.
Conversations are underway with members of the Illinois General Assembly to secure state matching
funds for the Transportation Bill appropriation to address public safety issues at the Main Entrance.
We continued to implement team-based diversity programs begun in 2005, with paid internships,
specialized recruiting, and zoo-wide training and provided mid-report on efforts to Forest Preserve District
Commissioners.
We continued to refine our management structure and reporting systems, hiring a Vice President of Plant
and Physical Facilities and implementing new control procedures for contract and purchase order
approvals
We began a pre-campaign feasibility effort, interviewing a few select individuals as part of the feasibility
effort for the upcoming comprehensive capital campaign, expected to begin quietly in 2007.
Other Notable accomplishments:
The Master Facilities Plan for the next 15 years was approved by the Society's Board of Trustees in March
and presented to the Forest Preserve District Zoological Committee in April. Planning efforts now focus on
projects identified for the first phase, with concept design to begin before year-end on the first two projects:
The Great Wild North and the Picnic Grove. These planning efforts will be informed by the audience
research work to be completed in October.
We welcomed over 200,000 school children for field trips or classes at the Zoo
A record number of free admission passes were issued to Forest Preserve District Commissioners for use
in their District Offices, social service agencies, staff and volunteers to further outreach efforts.
We worked with the Metropolitan Library System to offer free Zoo passes to families, including over 260
libraries in the greater Chicagoland area, and potentially reaching hundreds of families every week.
Our Youth Volunteer Corps program received national recognition with the award of an Institute of
Museum and Library Services grant for its expansion.
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