Abstract
Many U.S. cities are currently engaged in major efforts to redesign their urban zoological parks to make them more accessible to visitors, and to create a simulated participatory experience without the bars and cages typical of prior eras. A study was conducted to assess elderly persons' responses to a zoo that recently underwent major transformation. A functionalist-evolutionary perspective of person-environment transactions and environmental press-competence theory provided a theoretical foundation for a two-part research design involving a group numbering 62 persons living independently or in residential care facilities, and a group numbering 14 persons, both drawn from the same settings. Respondents completed a photo questionnaire containing 30 visual items and 21 written items. The utility of the research instrument was verified vis-'-vis the group of 14, which actually toured the zoo prior to completing the questionnaire. Among the findings, certain renovated settings were preferred less than settings associated with the traditional zoological environment. In addition, persons with physical limitations were not particularly interested in visiting the zoo regardless of the availability of adequate zoo access-support mechanisms. These results suggest that the current trend toward participatory, interactive zoo environments should be tempered by the special needs, limitations, and expectations of the aged.
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