Ross Park’s Carousel May be Moved

The iconic carousel at Ross Park Zoo, which has sat for decades, nestled in the glen off Morgan Road at the entrance to the zoo, may soon be moving up the hill.

The City of  Binghamton is asking for a half million dollar grant from the New York State Department of Parks and Historic Preservation to rehabilitate the carousel and relocate the merry-go-round from the lower part of the zoo in front of the ticket booth to the area that now houses pavilions and a playground.

Zoo officials say the move could allow the ticket booth to be moved and the lower zoo exhibit area to be expanded.

Since all of the area’s carousels were donated by George F. Johnson with the stipulation that there would never be a charge, the admission for the zoo had to be behind the existing carousel.

The 95-year-old merry-go-round is reportedly the oldest of the six in the area donated by the shoe magnate between 1919 and 1934.

The City has estimated the total cost of the move and renovation would be about $748,000.

If approved, the horses could be spinning at their new site closer to the parking area in the summer of 2017.