Please also donate to our GoFundMe

Save the CAFP GoFundMe

The aquarium’s doors have been closed to the public since March 14, 2020. The facility has not been able to make any revenue during this time and due to the devastating economic impacts of COVID-19, neither the City of Dallas nor the Dallas Zoo can afford to keep the aquarium’s doors open. The Dallas City Council will vote on September 23, 2020 to permanently close the aquarium unless outside funding can be found. It would be truly devastating for Dallas to lose such an accessible and educational outlet for the youth, along with everyone else in the community.  You can help keep the aquarium open by signing the petition and reaching out to the Dallas City Council directly to let them know how much the aquarium means to you.

The Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park has been open since 1936. It was the first aquarium in Texas and one of the oldest aquariums in the United States. The aquarium underwent an 8-million-dollar renovation in 2010 which included the large outdoor shark habitat and stingray touch experience. The Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park is currently home to 4,000 animals, including numerous vulnerable or endangered species. If the aquarium closes permanently, all of these animals will need to find homes at other facilities across the country.

The aquarium is focused on introducing children to aquatic animals and the conservation of our oceans and riverways. The aquarium has always had a reduced admission price of $8.00 for adults and $6.00 for children to keep prices down and allow families of all income levels a chance to enjoy nature. The Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park remains the most affordable science/education attraction in Dallas and is one of the only remaining year-round attractions at Fair Park. In 2019 the aquarium was able to reach 16,000 school children on field trips alone.

In addition to reaching families with great educational experiences, the aquarium sees nearly 40,000 visitors during the State Fair of Texas annually.  State Fair visitors are able to cool off in the aquarium’s air conditioning and splash around with the stingrays at Stingray Bay.

Please help us convince the City of Dallas that The Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park is worth funding, even during these difficult financial times.