Outdoor PA Paging System

A CASE STUDY

Outdoor PA Paging System for Bronx Zoo

Outdoor PA Paging System at Bronx Zoo

THE CHALLENGE

The Bronx Zoo is one of the largest metropolitan zoos in the world, spanning over 265 acres in New York City. It serves as a premier destination for education, conservation, and family recreation, hosting millions of visitors annually. The zoo sought a scalable PA solution that could handle general public announcements, emergency alerts, and daily zoo operations. The zoo required an indoor/outdoor PA paging system capable of:

  • Broadcast emergency alerts and public announcements across indoor and outdoor zoo areas.
  • Integrate with existing staff two-way radios to enable live voice paging from anywhere on site.
  • Provide pre-recorded emergency messages for critical situations such as lockdowns, evacuations, or severe weather events.
  • Automate scheduled announcements for daily activities, visitor information, and special events.

  • Support easy, cost-effective wireless installation by the zoo’s maintenance team.

THE SOLUTION

Outdoor Public Address System

To meet the unique communication needs of the Bronx Zoo, Visiplex provided a fully wireless indoor/outdoor PA paging system engineered for wide-area coverage, dependable performance, and simple installation.

The Outdoor PA Paging System included a wireless paging base station located at the zoo’s main office for centralized control, paired with a high-power RF transmitter to deliver complete signal coverage across the facility. The system also featured indoor wireless PA speakers and outdoor horn speakers to broadcast clear public and emergency voice messages throughout visitor areas and service zones.

A key component of the solution was the two-way radio interface, allowing zoo staff to make instant, live voice announcements over the paging network directly from their existing radios. This integration provided fast, secure communication during both routine operations and emergency situations.

Because the PA paging system was completely wireless, Bronx Zoo staff were able to install it quickly without the need for costly trenching or underground cabling. Each indoor and outdoor speaker required only a standard AC power outlet, making the system cost-effective, scalable, and easy to maintain for future expansion.

THE RESULTS

The wireless outdoor PA paging system installed at the Bronx Zoo has significantly improved visitor safety, operational efficiency, and public communication across the facility. Designed to perform reliably in high-traffic outdoor environments, the system enhanced both day-to-day operations and emergency responsiveness. Key capabilities delivered by the solution include:

  • Clear, wide-area audio coverage for announcements and emergency alerts.
  • Seamless integration with staff two-way radios for instant live voice paging.
  • Automated scheduling of daily visitor information and event announcements.
  • Reliable wireless communication without the need for underground cabling.
  • Easy system expansion to accommodate future zones or speaker locations.

All copyrights belong to their respective owners. Images and text owned by other copyright holders are used here under the guidelines of the Fair Use provisions of United States Copyright Law.