Cindy Upton, Jennifer Duhon, Jessica Stroope, Jessica Randazzo and Denise Holston

Low-income households frequently encounter significant barriers in accessing safe and affordable opportunities for physical activity. Many neighborhoods lack parks, recreational facilities and safe walking paths, making it difficult for families to engage in regular exercise. Interestingly, many zoos in the United States are situated in low-income areas, presenting a unique opportunity to address the lack of accessible recreational spaces. For example, the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle partners with nonprofit and human service organizations to make the zoo more accessible to economically under-resourced people. Zoos are designed to be walkable, offering an easy and enjoyable way for families to stay active while exploring the wonders of wildlife.

Lower-income households eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits also face barriers in accessing zoos because of admission costs. Realizing this, LSU AgCenter Nutritional and Community Health (NCH) agents from Rapides Parish collaborated with zoo leadership to create opportunities for open entry. The Alexandria Zoo, situated in an area where 58.8% of residents are eligible for SNAP, became a focal point for this initiative. Given Louisiana's ranking of 50th in overall health in 2023 America’s Health Rankings by the United Health Foundation, this program is particularly relevant in addressing the critical health disparities faced by many local families.

NCH agents and zoo leadership developed the Rapides Parish SNAP Family Day, a six-month trial program providing free zoo admission to qualifying families on the first Thursday of each month. During these events, NCH agents offer nutrition lessons, cooking demonstrations and physical activities, equipping attendees with valuable resources for healthy living.

The six-month evaluation of the Rapides Parish SNAP Family Day revealed impressive results, with SNAP recipients making up an average of 46.4% of zoo attendees. Attendance peaked at 87.5% in July 2023. Zoo leadership presented these encouraging numbers to decision-makers in the city of Alexandria, leading to the program's establishment as a permanent monthly event. Additionally, SNAP families now receive no-cost access to Healthy You at the Zoo, an annual event led by NCH agents in collaboration with community health partners.

Participants have reported adopting healthier habits at home, such as making fruit-infused water, involving children in meal preparation, creating healthy snacks and utilizing the SNAP Match program at the Alexandria Farmers Market, which is promoted during Family Zoo Day. These changes highlight the program's impact beyond the zoo, fostering healthier lifestyles within the community.

Further enhancing the zoo's role as a community health resource, NCH agents and the zoo have partnered to install a permanent StoryWalk and active-play sidewalk stencils. StoryWalk is a movement and literacy-boosting project that places each page of an illustrated children’s book along a walking route in the community. These additions encourage physical activity and literacy. SNAP families now have access to a variety of health and wellness opportunities at the zoo, making the zoo a vital community asset to all residents, regardless of family income.

The success of these initiatives has inspired plans to replicate the programs in other Louisiana zoos, demonstrating their scalability and potential for broader community impact. By transforming zoos into accessible hubs for health and wellness, NCH agents and zoo leadership are making significant strides in improving the quality of life for low-income families in Rapides Parish.

Cindy Upton is an assistant NCH agent based in Rapides Parish. Jennifer Duhon is an NCH agent and the coordinator of the AgCenter Central Region. Jessica Stroope is the AgCenter community and economic development specialist. Jessica Randazzo is a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) field coordinator. Denise Holston, a registered dietitian and an associate professor in the School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, leads the Healthy Communities initiative.

This article appeared in the winter 2025 issue of Louisiana Agriculture.

LSU AgCenter NCH agents have promoted healthy living and family fun at the zoo. Leaders of the program have included, from left to right, agent Cindy Upton, former agent Lori Marto, and agents Jennifer Duhon and Breanna Staab. Photo by Catherine Coalson

The Rapides Parish Library Literary Bus rolled into the Alexandria Zoo in for a program designed by LSU AgCenter NCH agents. Photo by Catherine Coalson