The Abridged version:
- The Sacramento City Council voted Tuesday to approve an agreement tied to the future of the Sacramento Zoo.
- The proposal would allow the city and the Sacramento Zoological Society to explore expanding the zoo by about 5.8 acres in Land Park.
- Sacramento Zoo board president Elizabeth Stallard called expansion “critical” to the future of the zoo in Land Park. The move came a year after efforts to move the zoo to Elk Grove fell through.
The Sacramento City Council took an initial step Tuesday night in shaping the future of one of the city’s most familiar destinations — the Sacramento Zoo.
The council unanimously approved an agreement with the Sacramento Zoological Society to explore an expansion of the Sacramento Zoo at its current location.
According to a city staff report, the proposal focuses on expanding the zoo’s footprint by roughly 5.8 acres in Land Park. That added space could allow for updated animal habitats and new exhibits. Additional acres would also make room for improvements aimed at long-term operations.
City staff members say the vote does not authorize construction or commit the city to a final plan. Instead, the agreement would outline how both sides work together during an early planning phase.
‘The zoo is special to me’
Councilmember Rick Jennings, whose District 7 includes the zoo and William Land Park, voiced support for plans to explore expanding the zoo.
“The zoo is special to me, so I get emotional when I talk about the zoo. My kids grew up in the zoo, and now I’m watching my grandkids, who are following in their footsteps,” Jennings said.
While residents in his district voiced concerns about the zoo encroaching further into Land Park, Jennings was confident that the study would help alleviate those worries.
“We can come up with a plan that takes all your fears away and allows us to see the potential of what our new zoo looks like,” Jennings said.
Why expansion is on the table
The Sacramento Zoo has operated in its current footprint since the 1960s. Space constraints have become a growing concern as standards for animal care and habitat design evolve.
Zoo and city leaders say the zoo needs more room to support animal welfare, conservation work and visitor experience. Expanding the site is one option now under consideration as part of a broader look at the zoo’s future.
Sacramento resident Jessica Paulsen brings her son, Christian Paulsen, to the Sacramento Zoo twice a week — rain or shine. Jessica grew up visiting the zoo and is excited about the site’s proposed expansion, particularly the additional space it would allow for both the animals and visitors to explore.
“Because right now … we do with what we can,” Paulsen said Tuesday. She said she’s drawn to the zoo’s shady and quiet atmosphere.
Expansion comes after Elk Grove move abandoned
A year ago, the zoo’s multiyear effort to relocate to Elk Grove fell through, and the zoo moved to expand at its current location.
Any changes, however, would come with additional review. Land use, environmental impacts and community input are all expected to factor into what comes next.
Chief Executive Officer Dan Simon said the work also would include traffic and parking studies.
“We’re just looking for a little more space to help us grow and be able to accommodate those needs,” Simon said.
The expansion plans would add nearly 6 acres to the zoo’s current 14.3-acre site, boosting its size 40% to 20.1 acres. The new acreage includes a 4.4-acre parcel across Land Park Drive, once home to a pony ride attraction that closed in 2022. An additional 1.4-acre parcel directly north of the existing zoo is also in the expansion plan.
‘Critical’ to the future
In September, the Sacramento Zoo submitted a formal request to the city to expand the footprint of the zoo’s historic Land Park location — a proposal that would represent its largest expansion in more than half a century.
Elizabeth Stallard, president of the Sacramento Zoological Society’s Board of Trustees, told Abridged the expansion is “critical” to the future of the zoo.
“The Sacramento Zoo has been a beloved and fundamental part of Land Park for nearly 100 years,” Stallard said. “We are thrilled to be exploring the possibility that the zoo might be able to plan for its next 100 years in Land Park, too.”
The zoo, which opened in 1927, has been a landmark destination for generations of Sacramento families with more than 500,000 visitors each year. Community groups in both Land Park and South Land Park voiced support for the expansion, a critical signal as the proposal moves through city channels.
“We look forward to sharing our vision for an expanded Sacramento Zoo with the community, and to working with the city of Sacramento on this critical effort,” Stallard said.
What the vote does, and doesn’t do
The agreement lays out a process for studying feasibility, gathering public input and identifying possible funding sources.
It does not approve a project or guarantee expansion will happen.
Instead, tonight’s vote signals that the city is ready to take a closer, more structured look at what an expanded Sacramento Zoo could look like — a possible new birth for a zoo turning100 years old.
Rob Stewart is a senior correspondent and host for PBS KVIE and reports for Abridged. Felicia Alvarez contributed to this story.