Muma Children’s Hospital at TGH Opens New Family Care Center at ZooTampa at Lowry Park

Family care center offers safety and comfort to new parents during family fun at the zoo.

Tampa, FL (April 11, 2024) – The new family care center at ZooTampa offers new moms a welcoming space to feed infants during visits to the family-favorite destination. Presented by the Muma Children’s Hospital at TGH, the family care center at ZooTampa is one of many initiatives of Tampa General Hospital (TGH) to support the health and well-being of the broader community.

“World-class care is not limited to the four walls of a hospital. Through our partnerships in communities across the state, we’re working to support the health and well-being of Floridians in spaces where they live, work and play,” said John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General. “Here at ZooTampa, families can explore the trails and enjoy the wildlife while also having a comfortable place to go and care for their young children.”

Couris was joined by Melissa Golombek, vice president of Muma Children’s Hospital at TGH and TGH Women’s Institute, and Tiffany Burns, senior director of Animal Programs at ZooTampa, to cut the ribbon on the new facility and welcome families into the space.

“Our partnership with ZooTampa is a natural opportunity to promote health and wellness where families already enjoy exploring the great outdoors and learning about wildlife,” said Golombek. “With the new family care center presented by Muma Children’s Hospital at TGH, parents have some privacy from the wild while they care for their newest additions.”

The family care center, known as The Lil’ Joey Family Stop, is located in the new Australia section of the zoo. It offers a comfortable, private space for mothers to nurse their children or pump. The room includes comfortable seating, power outlets, a side table, activity boards, a bottle warmer, a television and a sink. Once inside, parents can lock the door for privacy. The center is open daily during Zoo hours from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

“We’re always looking for new, innovative ways to improve the Zoo experience for our guests and members and make our park as accessible and comfortable as possible,” said Burns. “We’re grateful to Muma Children’s Hospital at TGH for their support and continued collaborations with the Zoo to ensure the health and wellness of Tampa Bay families while enjoying wildlife.”

As the exclusive medical partner of ZooTampa, the family care center is one of many united efforts by Tampa General and ZooTampa to support health and wellness. In February, ZooTampa invited the community to explore a new walking trail developed in collaboration with Tampa General. This fitness opportunity is a one-mile loop that connects guests with animal habitats while allowing walkers to track their progress. Last year, the Muma Children’s Hospital at TGH and ZooTampa teamed up to host a Kids Fun Run at the zoo.