There's No Arguing:
With gas prices soaring, now is not the time to close one of the few local attractions, The Zoo. More vacationers are opting for "staycations".

Definition from Wikipedia: Staycation (or stay-cation, or stacation) a period of time in which an individual or family stays at home and relaxes at home or takes day trips from their home to area attractions.

Staycations have achieved high popularity in current hard economic times in which unemployment levels and gas prices are high. Common activities of a "staycation" include the use of the backyard pool, visits to local parks, zoos, museums, and attendance at local festivals i.e. "Concerts in the Park". These attractions with the right marketing will increase their revenues during economic hard times and establish themselves as viable business models when the economy takes the swing back to better times.

The "tri-County" community must be made aware of the possibilities of losing one of the most successful Zoos in the Nation. If the local governments are unable or unwilling to assist in solutions for the funding problems then perhaps we should look to the Federal Government or perhaps to private donors, philanthropies, or even INVESTORS.

The Zoo is a regional asset that is also a teaching and learning tool. Area schools and colleges are involved in educational activities at the Zoo. We're vested in but lack the foresight to be invested in the financial well being of this institution. Sponsors will be more than willing to invest in a business that can be proven to be a profit center in hard economic times.

We have to wonder why, as a community, we are not more progressive...

What made the citizens from Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Counties, as a community so behind the times, and weak in creating a region that could compete with the rest of the "successful" communities of the great "State of Florida"? It's time that these Counties, it's Citizens and our Communities stand up and move this region out of the 20th century failures that have brought us to the edges of self destruction. Let's start now to create a region that will be the envy and model for the rest of the State. Snap out of the "status-quo" come on people "grow a pair" and take our responsibilities seriously. Let's set the example, and not remain the subject of jokes told in other Counties in the rest of this State.

Let's also, stop placing the blame on some of those entrenched politicians we elected and elect progressive thinkers that will help us move this region into the future we have been dreaming we could become. The Zoo could be one of the many successes that we will be able to point to when looking back at a region that turned its future around. The next step is to Incorporate Navarre. I'm all in, are you? "3 to 2 north county advantage, but not for long..."