NEW: Head of Roger Williams Park Zoo -- Who Criticized ATVs for "Ruining Events" -- Is Leaving
GoLocalProv News Team
NEW: Head of Roger Williams Park Zoo -- Who Criticized ATVs for "Ruining Events" -- Is Leaving
In March, he sent a letter to a Providence City Councilman describing how ATVs and off-road vehicles have destroyed the property -- and have ruined events at the city landmark.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"We have seen the damage these vehicles have caused to Roger Williams Park on a regular basis. We have also seen these vehicles disrupt events such as weddings and our very popular Food Truck Friday event," said Goodman
"I fear that with the destruction these vehicles cause and the fear they put into people due to their reckless use, Roger Williams Park will reverse its path of progress and people will once again feel it is not a safe place to take their families," he added.
In July, ATVs -- and off-road vehicles -- tore up the city-maintained property at the adjacent -- and historic -- Temple to Music grounds at Roger Williams Park.
RWP Zoo Announcement
The Roger Williams Park Zoo announced Thursday that Goodman will be leaving his position next month to join the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium as their next President & CEO.
“It has been a great privilege working alongside the board and staff of Roger Williams Park Zoo for the past eight years. I am incredibly proud to have led the organization to financial stability, and animal and educational programming excellence,” said Goodman.
Since joining the Zoo in 2013, Goodman has presided over a substantial period of growth at the zoo with nearly $27 million in capital approvements including the new Rainforest exhibit which opened in 2018, a commissary building, new veterinary quarantine building and the Alex & Ani Farmyard. Additionally, Goodman developed a new Zoo Master Plan, emphasizing the Zoo's continuing efforts to exemplify best practices in animal care, conservation, environmental education, and visitor experience for years to come.
“This was an incredibly difficult decision for me as I truly love the Zoo and I have the deepest respect and admiration for everyone who works here and makes it the great place that it is," said Goodman. "We’ve had an extremely successful trajectory over the past several years, including the past 18 months dealing with COVID; thanks to the dedication and hard work of the entire team, I am confident that Roger Williams Park Zoo will continue to thrive as it enters its 150th year in the Rhode Island community in 2022."
The zoo will begin a national search process for the next Executive Director.