GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- There were massive lines to get into John Ball Zoo Friday forWGVU's KidsDay.
The cost for the event is $2, and lines were stretching for blocks to get in. Police were blocking off Fulton Street near the zoo's entrance Friday morning.
Despite lines lasting more than an hour and a half, people still enjoyed their day at the Zoo.
KidsDay activities run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to WGVU's website.
"To be able to come into work everyday and have my sons and the community's families be able to do something that nobody does and has these partnerships with public media and zoo's to do this for our community at the end of the day it's great," said Timothy Eernisse, the Development and Marketing Manager at WGVU.
Massive line at the John Ball Park Zoo today, it's only $2 to get in. @FOX17 http://t.co/Hu2AJmcu5L—
Erica Francis Fox 17 (@Francis_Erica) August 07, 2015
A total of 11,769 people showing up for the days event.
Even with the crowds, event officials say no-one was turned away, and that the lines show how much people love the zoo.
"It's the families, I think it's a testament to the lines. Whether they're waiting three minutes or a half hour, they're still waiting, they're not turning around. That's a testament to the zoo and this event being here that people want to do this," Eernisse said.
Event organizers say they'll be looking for ways to improve the parking and long lines for next year and might even look into making the event a full weekend long.
"I think people love having the zoo, they're proud of the zoo, and a day like today shows just that," Brenda Stringer, the Director of Institutional Advancement of John Ball Zoo.
