New online timed ticketing procedures in place at the Zoo.
Roger Williams Park Zoo tickets are now sold online only. No tickets will be sold at the gate. All patrons, including members, must obtain tickets online for one of the following timeslots: 9 am, 10 am, 11 am, Noon, 1 pm, or 2 pm. Guests are welcome to remain on Zoo grounds until 4:00 pm. No one will be allowed on Zoo grounds without showing a ticket at the parking lot entrance, including members.
“The entire staff is excited to welcome everyone back to the Zoo,” says Dr. Jeremy Goodman, executive director of Roger Williams Park Zoo. We are enhancing cleaning procedures and following the state’s mandated requirement that everyone wear face masks. We are also placing reminders around the Zoo emphasizing social distancing to keep all our guests and staff healthy and safe. There is no better place than our 40 acres to enjoy nature, visit with animals we all love, and engage in learning about wildlife and wild places.”
When arriving at the Zoo all guests will be stopped at the entrance gate and must have:
- Face mask for each guest in the vehicle.
- Pre-Purchased admission tickets for each guest in the vehicle.
Guests will be admitted only during their designated timeslot and should park every other space to practice social distancing. Parking is not allowed in spaces that have a large X through them. Before entering the Zoo guests will have their temperatures checked. If temperatures are 100.4 and above, Zoo staff will require guests to wait in a designated area and then be re-checked. If the temperature still reads 100.4 or above the guest(s) will be asked to visit at a later date.
If taking public transportation buses will pick up and drop off passengers at the bus stops near the tennis courts on Hawthorne Avenue.
Important Changes at the Zoo
Once inside the Zoo flow of pedestrian traffic will be one-way only around the grounds. There will be staff and volunteers to help guide visitors and answer any questions. Strollers, wagons, and wheelchairs from home are permitted. They will also be available for rental. Due to State regulations on outdoor dining, guests will not be allowed to bring their own food into the Zoo. However, our new food service partner SSA Group has refurbished all cafes and enhanced all safety protocols including ordering and payment from your mobile device. SSA is a leader in the food service industry working closely with Zoo staff to make sure all State regulations around COVID-19 protocols are in place. Additionally, guests will enjoy their locally sourced menu items, traditional Rhode Island fare, and tasty snacks.
The Building & Grounds staff is enhancing cleaning protocols, which include making sure rest rooms, surfaces including tables, railings, and picnic tables are cleaned regularly. There are plenty of hand sanitizer dispensers around the Zoo. Additionally, Zoo staff ask that everyone remembers to wash hands as often as possible.
By order of the State of Rhode Island everyone out in public must wear a face mask. Therefore, all guests are required to wear a mask while at the Zoo. Every Zoo staff and volunteer will be wearing a face mask. Masks keep all of us, human and animal, safe from COVID-19.
All buildings will be closed. High frequency, high touch play-based activities will not be available. Sadly, we are cancelling our Bank RI Farmhouse Stage Wild Bunch performances, and Hasbro’s Our Big Backyard, Explore & Soar rides and the Carousel area will be closed until further notice.
For updated Zoo information please go to www.rwpzoo.org.
Roger Williams Park Zoo is Rhode Island’s number one outdoor family and tourist attraction, and a leader in conservation efforts undertaken by a zoo of its size. As leaders in conservation and animal care – we create engaging experiences that empower guests to join us in conserving wildlife and wild places. Roger Williams Park Zoo is supported and managed by the Rhode Island Zoological Society and is owned by the City of Providence.
