Would the I-logle Zoological Gardens (Salt Lake Zoo) be a worthwhile project for allocation of state funds for needed capital improvements? Gov. Scott M. Matheson has recommended state participation of $500,000 in his budget now before the Legislature. We feel the idea has a great deal of merit if it’s legal. It is understood the lawmakers currently are checking the legality, with questions centering on whether state money can be appropriated to a private foundation (the Utah Zoological Society which has managed the operation since 1951 under an agreement with Salt Lake City). Certainly the Hogle Zoo is of statewide benefit from standpoints of education-recreational value and as a stimulus to tourism. Over half a million persons visit the facility annually (nearly 525,000in 1976, the latest year for which official figures were available). Zoo records indicate 30.5 percent of the visitors are Utalms who reside outside of Salt Lake County, bearing out the state-wide benefit. And 26.4 percent are tourists, many of whom undoubtedly stay in Utah longer as a result of the Zoo. During 1977, as a service of the zoological society, 81,868 school children were conducted through the zoo in supervised groups. In addition, 90,915 other youngsters were admitted free and 30,000 students were visited in their classrooms by qualified zoo lecturers. A master plan for modernizing and improving the zoo has been prepared by ZooPlan Associates Inc. of Wichita, Kan. Proponents of a broader base of support note that the zoo is in need of new buildings and imporved exhibiting. They propose that the state should help finance capital improvements with Salt Lake City and County (which have supported the zoo by expenditure of about $5 million) continuing to assist operationally. One example of need cited is replacement of the 44-year-old exhibit building for elephants which has been declared unsafe as well as inadequate for showing. Future plans include a “mobile zoo” to take a living classroom concept to outlying counties in the state. ‘I’his would be a trailer-type unit with animal and graphic displays and film library, with animal kingdom presentations in school and community auditoriums. The idea is good and it should be pushed, especially if state funds are appropriated. We encourage the Legislature in its budget session to seriously study the value of the zoo to the state and support a sensible program that will upgrade the facility and improve its longrange value and potential.