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93

[[underlined]] Status Report 
Parking at the National Zoological Park [[/underlined]] 

Mr. Ripley reported that in accordance with the approval of the Board of Regents on January 28, 1971, and subsequent rejoinders (pages 23, Regents' Minutes of November 20, 1972) to inaugurate paid parking at the National Zoological Park, the staff has been pursuing arrangements to provide for collecting charges for parking facilities at the Zoo. In consultation with the firm of DeLeuw, Cather Associates, plans for improvements and changes to present parking lots indicate requirements for electric eye gates, signs, attendant shelters and installation of electric service lines to five locations. 

The Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ), an organization created to assist and support educational programs at the Zoo, will propose a contract with the Smithsonian for operating the parking lots. Any net proceeds derived by FONZ from such an operation will be used for enhancing the educational research programs of the Zoo.

Tentative plans call for devoting the remainder of net proceeds toward a construction fund for the future multi-level expansion of Zoo parking facilities. 

It is anticipated that the interim parking facilities should be ready by April 1, 1973, the start of the Zoo's busy season. 

It was disclosed that the parking charge will be $1 per automobile for an unlimited amount of time.

Mr. Ripley reiterated that the Smithsonian hopes to apply remaining net proceeds to construction of multi-level garage located in the side of the hill, to exhibit our earnest intention of helping to finance the project.