LOL JXN: ‘Something significant’: Credit card readers should be in place this week at Jackson Zoo

Things have gotten so bad at the Jackson ZOO that they're calling the ability to take debit & credit cards "Something Significant" as if it's a new attraction or something. 

Per WLBT-

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Customers could soon be able to swipe a credit card at the Jackson Zoological Park.

Jackson Director of Communications Melissa Faith Payne said the park’s new credit card readers are expected to arrive Monday and should be in place Wednesday.

The city had hoped to install the devices by the end of August. Payne said shipping delays slowed that process.

Ward Five Councilman Vernon Hartley was excited to hear about the news, calling it “something significant.”

“We’ve got to bring more revenue into the zoo to balance the taxpayers’ investment,” he said. “It’s something the city has been working on for a while. I’m glad to see it coming through.”

The news comes nearly two months after a 3 On Your Side Investigation discovered that the West Jackson facility was continuing to see continued declines in attendance, with just 22,103 people visiting between January 1 and July 16, 2024.

That report came about a year after members of the Jackson City Council discussed de-funding the park to cover other city expenses. Between $1.6 million and $1.8 million is set aside for zoo operations each year.

Days later, Parks and Recreation Director Dr. Abram Muhammad said the city had to turn away hundreds of customers over the summer because the zoo could not accept credit cards in person.

“In the month of May, we had to turn away 423 potential patrons simply because we did not have electronic payments in place,” he said. “That equates to $5,000 to $7,300 of revenue we missed out on just that month... In the month of June, we missed out on a potential $6,800 and in the month of July, we missed out on a potential $11,000.”

We requested records reflecting the total number of patrons turned away each month from January 1, 2023. However, the city responded, saying records before May 2024 did not exist.

Muhammad was not available for comment.