On April Fools Day, media outlet Bham Now pulled a prank on their followers.
The Magic City based media company posted that the Brookwood Village shopping center would be transformed into an aquarium. However, when several local residents of the area got the joke — many thought that it wasn’t such a bad idea.
One of those residents is Chelsea Johnson.
Johnson created a Change.org petition to try to make what started out as a joke into a reality.
“As a local resident of Birmingham, I have seen the once bustling Brookwood Village Mall fall into disuse and abandonment,” wrote Johnson in the petition “This space could be better utilized to serve our community in a way that is both educational and entertaining. We propose to transform this deserted mall into an aquarium.”
“An aquarium in our town would not only provide a unique learning environment for children but also attract tourists, boosting our local economy.”
Johnson’s petition also noted the economic impact that aquariums and zoos have nationally.
“According to the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), accredited facilities like zoos and aquariums contribute $22.5 billion to the US economy annually and support more than 198,000 jobs nationwide.”
She believes that the aquarium could help to educate the public and also be an investment into the communities future.
“Moreover, it would offer us an opportunity to foster environmental awareness among residents and visitors alike by showcasing marine life’s beauty and fragility. The National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) states that exposure to marine education programs can significantly increase knowledge about ocean conservation issues.”.”
“Let’s turn this vision into reality by signing this petition today.”
As of Tuesday the petition had garnered around 500 signatures.
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.
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