CONGRATULATIONS EXTENDED KEVIN J. BELL ON HIS RETIRMENT AS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE LINCOLN PARK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
WHEREAS, Kevin J. Bell, devoted advocate, leader, and supporter of zoos across the world, will retire from his role as President and CEO of the Lincoln Park Zoological Society at the end of 2021, after 26 years in that role and 46 total years of service at the Zoo; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this occasion by the Honorable Michele Smith, Alderman ofthe 43rd Ward; and
WHEREAS, Kevin grew up on the grounds of the Bronx Zoo - literally - where he started his lifelong work with animals at the age of 10, first working as a volunteer, and later becoming a part-time animal caretaker at 17, and a keeper at 20; and
WHEREAS, In 1976, at the age of 23, Kevin came to Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo as Curator of Birds, the youngest curator ever hired at the Zoo, and in 1993 he was named Assistant Director and became Director that same year; on January 1, 1995, upon the Lincoln Park Zoo's privatization, Kevin became the President and CEO ofthe Lincoln Park Zoological Society; and
- WHEREAS, Under Kevin's tenure, the Lincoln Park Zoo has thrived as an urban oasis driven by science and a commitment to animal care, horticulture, conservation, education, and connecting people to nature; Kevin's many accomplishments include building a team of more than 40 scientists and establishing the Urban Wildlife Institute to help the public understand how to coexist with wildlife and create more wildlife-friendly cities, establishing the Nature Boardwalk, and solidifying the commitment to keep the Lincoln Park Zoo free to the general public; and
WHEREAS, Kevin also played an instrumental role in the two most ambitious capital campaigns in the history of the Lincoln Park Zoo's history: the Heart-of-the-Zoo campaign and the My Kind of Zoo campaign, which together raised more than $125 million in capital for renovation and new construction at the zoo, ...
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