{"id":458708,"date":"2025-12-19T22:50:26","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T22:50:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/458708\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T22:50:26","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T22:50:26","slug":"new-initiative-makes-dallas-zoo-more-accessible-to-snap-wic-families-across-north-texas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/458708\/","title":{"rendered":"New initiative makes Dallas Zoo more accessible to SNAP, WIC families across North Texas"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"body-text-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dallasnews.com\/topic\/dallas-zoo\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.dallasnews.com\/topic\/dallas-zoo\/\">Dallas Zoo has launched<\/a> a new initiative designed to make memberships more accessible to families across North Texas.<\/p>\n<p class=\"body-text-paragraph\">As part of the institution\u2019s Zoo For All program, families who participate in Texas\u2019 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Women, Infants and Children program can now purchase a one-year family membership for $50 \u2014 more than $100 off the standard price. <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2000 \/ 1333\"   class=\"dmnc_images-modern-image-module__QFaG- max-w-full h-auto text-white dmnc_images-modern-image-module__9Zlll bg-gray-light object-contain\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/JCSPNODTPRAJBJ6STMAY2MZX4Y.JPG\" alt=\"Dylan Gutierrez (left), 4, and Melanie Gutierrez, 10, greet hippo Boipelo and her baby...\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Dylan Gutierrez (left), 4, and Melanie Gutierrez, 10, greet hippo Boipelo and her baby hippo, Adanna, at the Dallas Zoo on July 18, 2019.<\/p>\n<p>Lynda M. Gonz\u00e1lez \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n<p class=\"body-text-paragraph\">According to Devan George, a zoo spokeswoman, the program serves to further the zoo\u2019s commitment to accessibility, ensuring everyone \u201chas the opportunity to explore one of Dallas\u2019s most beloved education and conservation-focused destinations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Breaking News<\/p>\n<p class=\"dmnc_features-cta-social-article-cta-social-module__3beff secondaryRoman secondaryRoman-20 text-center text-gray-dark\">Get the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dmnc_features-cta-social-article-cta-social-module__8MgJa flex flex-wrap text-gray-dark secondaryRoman secondaryRoman-10 text-center justify-center\">By signing up, you agree to our\u00a0<a class=\"dmnc_features-cta-social-article-cta-social-module__lU9-l border-b border-gray-dark hover_border-0 focus_border-0 active_border-0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dallasnews.com\/help\/terms-of-service\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Terms of Service<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a class=\"dmnc_features-cta-social-article-cta-social-module__lU9-l border-b border-gray-dark hover_border-0 focus_border-0 active_border-0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dallasnews.com\/help\/privacy-policy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Privacy Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"body-text-paragraph\">\u201cZoo For All is a crucial step toward removing barriers and making sure every family can connect with animals, nature, and conservation in meaningful ways,\u201d<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dallasnews.com\/news\/2023\/11\/27\/full-circle-dallas-zoo-names-zoo-knoxvilles-lisa-new-next-president-and-ceo\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.dallasnews.com\/news\/2023\/11\/27\/full-circle-dallas-zoo-names-zoo-knoxvilles-lisa-new-next-president-and-ceo\/\"> Lisa New, CEO of the Dallas Zoo,<\/a> wrote in a statement. \u201cThat core belief is central to everything we do here at the zoo, and we\u2019re so proud to roll out this new program to help us extend our reach to even more families.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Related<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"aspect-ratio:190 \/ 127\" class=\"dmnc_features-article-body-embeds-related-story-module__2UraD flex-none object-cover dmnc_images-modern-image-module__QFaG- max-w-full h-auto text-white dmnc_images-modern-image-module__9Zlll bg-gray-light object-contain dmnc_images-modern-image-module__P3kZ4 w-full\" width=\"190\" height=\"127\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/465MS67PWNHGFF5S5SQCUN5WI4.jpg\" alt=\"Four-month-old Makutu tries to reach back after he was brought down to the ground by Sara...\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"body-text-paragraph\">According to George, Zoo For All participants will have access to the same benefits as any family-level member for one year, including:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"body-text-list\">\n<li>Free daily admission for up to four people per day (with named adult cardholder present)<\/li>\n<li>Free parking for one car per day<\/li>\n<li>Exclusive discounts on gift shop purchases, dining, additional guest tickets, rides (carousel, mini-train, VR experience), animal feedings and premium exhibits like Destination: Dinosaurs and Dallas Zoo Lights Presented by Reliant<\/li>\n<li>Invitations to special member events, like Member Happy Hours and monthly Member Mornings<\/li>\n<li>Priority access to and discounts on zoo education programs, camps and classes<\/li>\n<li>Reciprocal membership to more than 150 zoos and aquariums nationwide <\/li>\n<li>Subscription to Wild Edition, the zoo\u2019s digital member newsletter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"body-text-paragraph\">Families who qualify can purchase their membership in person at the zoo\u2019s membership booth by presenting a valid EBT card along with a matching state-issued photo ID. <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio:4096 \/ 2732\"   class=\"dmnc_images-modern-image-module__QFaG- max-w-full h-auto text-white dmnc_images-modern-image-module__9Zlll bg-gray-light object-contain\" width=\"4096\" height=\"2732\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1766184626_880_465MS67PWNHGFF5S5SQCUN5WI4.jpg\" alt=\"Four-month-old Makutu tries to reach back up after he was brought down to the ground by Sara...\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Four-month-old Makutu tries to reach back up after he was brought down to the ground by Sara Bjerklie, assistant zoological manager of mammals, on Friday, May 9, 2025, at Dallas Zoo. Makutu is being hand-raised by zoologists after he was rejected by his mother, JB. <\/p>\n<p>Shafkat Anowar \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n<p class=\"body-text-paragraph\">Those who don\u2019t qualify will still have opportunities throughout the year to visit the zoo at discounted rates. <\/p>\n<p class=\"body-text-paragraph\">On average, George said, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dallasnews.com\/news\/2025\/06\/17\/raising-makutu-a-look-at-the-dallas-zoo-chimpanzee-pushing-conservation-forward\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.dallasnews.com\/news\/2025\/06\/17\/raising-makutu-a-look-at-the-dallas-zoo-chimpanzee-pushing-conservation-forward\/\">the Dallas Zoo welcomes<\/a> nearly 60% of its visitors for $10 or less, with another 13% attending for free. <\/p>\n<p class=\"body-text-paragraph\">During the sweltering summer months of July and August, tickets drop to $15 for all guests. It\u2019s the same time of year the zoo typically hosts other community programs <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dallasnews.com\/news\/2025\/06\/21\/fur-stripes-spots-scales-oh-my-dallas-zoo-announces-2025-dollar-days-dates\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.dallasnews.com\/news\/2025\/06\/21\/fur-stripes-spots-scales-oh-my-dallas-zoo-announces-2025-dollar-days-dates\/\">such as Dollar Days<\/a>, providing admission for, yes, just $1 per person. <\/p>\n<p class=\"body-text-paragraph\">\u201cWith Zoo For All, Dallas Zoo is extending these efforts to provide lasting impact \u2013 an entire year of access, exploration, and discovery \u2013 for even more families,\u201d George said. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Dallas Zoo has launched a new initiative designed to make memberships more accessible to families across North&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":458709,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5135],"tags":[5229,1596,8158,21678,6974,358,3187,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-458708","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-dallas","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-dallas","10":"tag-dallas-zoo","11":"tag-equity","12":"tag-snap","13":"tag-texas","14":"tag-tx","15":"tag-united-states","16":"tag-united-states-of-america","17":"tag-unitedstates","18":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","19":"tag-us","20":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115748683960671405","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/458708","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=458708"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/458708\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/458709"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=458708"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=458708"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=458708"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}