by April Helms

Special Products Editor

The sounds of carousel music and the squeals of happy children as they slowly go up and down on the carousel animals can be heard at the Akron Zoo, with the opening of its new Conservation Carousel on July 31.

No traditional carousel horses are included in the menagerie, "so no horsing around," as one volunteer jokingly says to the children and their parents awaiting their ride. Instead, the carousel has animals such as a komodo dragon, a penguin, a ladybug, a moose, a clownfish, a giraffe, an okapi and more. There are a total of 33 hand-carved animals, plus a peacock chariot. Several of the animals in the carousel can be found at the zoo.

Creatures from all seven continents are represented, according to information provided by the zoo. Other features of the zoo include 350 LED lights. A nearby world map shows what continent the animals depicted on the carousel reside.

According to information provided by the zoo, the cost of the carousel, plus adding picnic areas, benches and more near the vicinity, cost $1.2 million, 56 percent funded through private donations and the rest from zoo levy proceeds.

The cost to ride the carousel, which runs about 2 1/2 minutes, is $2.

The Akron Zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $7.50 for senior citizens and $6 for children ages 2 to 14. Children younger than 2 are free. Parking is $2.

For details, call 330-375-2550 or visit www.akronzoo.org online.

E-mail: ahelms@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3153