Essex County Executive DiVincenzo Announces Commemorative Book is Published to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Essex County Turtle Back Zoo
Zoo staffers pen new book sharing stories and images, encourage visitors to share their Zoo memories
(January 6, 2014 – West Orange, NJ): Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced that a commemorative book about Essex County Turtle Back Zoo has been published by Arcadia Publishing as part of its Images of America series, which captures and celebrates the history of small towns, architecture and local landmarks across the country. The publishing of Images of America: Turtle Back Zoo comes at the end of the zoo’s 50th anniversary celebration and chronicles how the community and county government brought Essex County Turtle Back Zoo to life in 1963 and transformed the local gem into an AZA (Association of Zoos & Aquariums) accredited facility.
“I congratulate our zoo staff for compiling this book and creating a comprehensive history of Turtle Back Zoo’s first 50 years. Turtle Back is a beloved destination that over the last 10 years has been transformed with new natural habitat exhibits and recognized as the best zoo in New Jersey,” DiVincenzo said. “What started as a fairly-tale themed attraction has evolved into a destination that raises awareness about conservation and the importance of animals while providing a fun-filled wild adventure for people of all ages,” he added.
Over 200 black and white images tell the story of Turtle Back Zoo and pay tribute to its rich 50-year history. Images of America: Turtle Back Zoo chronicles the Zoo’s growth and development since opening in 1963, its expansion from 2003 to 2013 under the leadership of DiVincenzo and sheds light on the Zoo’s future goals. Zoo director Brint Spencer co-wrote the book with Caitlin A. Sharp, Program Developer for the Essex County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs.
“We’re thrilled to be able to show the Zoo’s rich history. It’s grown from a humble local establishment to the #1 Zoo in New Jersey. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the next fifty years,” said Spencer.
Fans are encouraged to share their favorite Turtle Back Zoo memory in the “What’s Your Zoo Story” Sweepstakes, hosted on the Zoo’s Facebook page. Fans can enter daily during the sweepstakes’ six-week entry period, and each week three lucky fans will win a copy of the commemorative book.
“We hope that readers of Turtle Back Zoo’s 50-year history book will enjoy this look back in time at the exciting and enriching experience the Zoo has provided – and that they’ll see how their own memories are part of our unique history,” said Sharp.
Images of America: Turtle Back Zoo is available at the Zoo gift shop, area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888) 313-2665 or online at http://www.arcadiapublishing.com/9781467120586/Turtle-Back-Zoo.
Turtle Back Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Regular admission is $7 for children and senior citizens, $9 for adults and free for children under 2 years. For more information, visit TurtleBackZoo.com – or facebook.com/TurtleBackZoo.
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PRESS: For more information about the Turtle Back Zoo, please contact Nicole Mazewski at The S3 Agency: 973-257-5533 or nmazewski@theS3agency.com
About The Turtle Back Zoo
Essex County Turtle Back Zoo, has been ranked as New Jersey’s #1 Zoo by New Jersey Monthly magazine, received a 2013 Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisory.com, is AZA-accredited and features over 800 animals from around the world. Turtle Back Zoo is committed to providing an enriching recreation experience that fosters excellence in wildlife education and wildlife conservation for present and future generations.
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