Access New Online Animal Pgms.
The Wildlife Conservation Society, the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and AT&T have launched free wi-fi service at the Queens Zoo in Flushing Meadows- Corona Park.
The zoo is the 24th New York City Parks location to receive free AT&T Wi-Fi through the “Wi-Fi in the Parks” initiative.
Anyone with a Wi-Fi enabled smartphone or device will be able to connect to the service for free and learn about activities at the zoo or more about the animals as they observe them. By connecting to Wi-Fi at the zoo, users can also interact with other animal fact finding applications, upload photos and share with their social networks to enhance their zoo experience.
The wi-fi service will be available at specific locations within the zoo, including areas by the pronghorn, bison and sea lion exhibits. To kickoff the new wi-fi offering, the Wildlife Conservation Society and Queens Zoo are hosting a month-long photo contest. Visitors can take photos of their favorite animals at the Queens Zoo and submit them for a chance to win a family membership to WCS wildlife parks.
The winning photo will be featured online at www.queenszoo.com. Photos should be sent to QZPhoto@wcs.org for consideration. The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, July 31.
“So often, our visitors are amazed by the animals they see here at the Queens Zoo and want to learn more about them,” said Dr. Scott Silver, director and curator of animals at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Queens Zoo. “Our mission is to con- nect people to wildlife. Free wi-fi allows us to enhance that connection.”
“The five-year agreement with the City of New York and AT&T is helping parkgoers across the city make the most of their experience and we’re excited to add the Queens Zoo to the growing list of locations where free wi-fi is now available,” said Bob Garafola, deputy commissioner of the Department of Parks and Recreation. “This service helps create a virtual visitors center where guests can learn more about the zoo and its inhabitants while sharing their memories as they happen.”
Since the initiative launched last June, parks visitors have made more than 2.7 million total connections, averaging 10,000 connections a day across the five boroughs.
For official contest rules, visit www.queenszoo.com/contest-rules .aspx.
The Queens Zoo is open every day of the year; an admission is charged for adults, with discounts for seniors and children; youngsters under three years of age are admitted free. The zoo is open on weekdays from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. from April through October, and 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from November through April.
For further information, call 1-718-271-1500 or visit their website, www.queenszoo.com.
