The two areas comprise roughly 5.8 acres of the park.<\/p>\n
Proposed zoo expansionThe Sacramento Zoo has submitted a request to expand its footprint in William Land Park. The zoo proposes to expand in two areas totalling 5.8 acres, a 41% increase in acreage. ![\"Map](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ZooExpansion_SM.jpg\")
Source: Sacramento Zoo<\/p>\n
Dustin Hollingsworth, who is the city\u2019s representative on the nonprofit Sacramento Zoo\u2019s board of trustees, gave the presentation during the Tuesday meeting. He stressed that the MOU wouldn\u2019t lock the city into expansion. \u201cIt establishes a framework of things to be considered,\u201d Hollingsworth told the meeting.<\/p>\n
A report provided with the meeting agenda noted that the MOU will include creating a phasing plan for expansion, reviewing the park master plan and developing a strategy for community engagement that includes a working group of community representatives.<\/p>\n
Ten people spoke during public comment.<\/p>\n
Jill Culbertson of Visit Sacramento, a destination marketing organization for the city, offered enthusiastic support from her organization for \u201cgrowing the offerings\u201d of the zoo.<\/p>\n
Art Scotland, a member of the zoo\u2019s board of trustees who has lived much of his life in the neighborhood of Land Park, also urged approval of the MOU.<\/p>\n
But many members of the public who spoke were concerned about the working group process and how the potential expansion would affect the park.<\/p>\n
Linda Farley urged the council not to move forward with the MOU.<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand the MOU is being positioned as a study, but it is not a neutral exploration of all options,\u201d Farley told the council. \u201cIt is focused on advancing a specific path: extension, expansion within the park. Studying this option doesn\u2019t solve the zoo\u2019s long-term challenges. It risks losing park land without delivering a lasting, sustainable solution.\u201d<\/p>\n
Multiple speakers voiced fears about the zoo expanding into the Swanston statue area. Rick Stevenson said the area was a good vista. \u201cTo capriciously destroy it makes absolutely no sense,\u201d Stevenson said.<\/p>\n
No speakers voiced concern about expanding into the pony ride area, though Stetson said after she left the meeting that this was because that area had already been destroyed.<\/p>\n
Kristina Rogers, president of the Land Park Community Association, told the council there was time to develop a plan everybody could support. \u201cA though timeline needs to be shared with the public,\u201d Rogers said.<\/p>\n
There was little debate among the council about whether to approve the MOU. \u201cThis doesn\u2019t set up the end,\u201d Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty said.<\/p>\n
Sacramento Councilmember Rick Jennings, whose district includes the zoo, was also optimistic about finding consensus.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we work together in this process from now until September, we can come up with a plan that takes all your fears away,\u201d Jennings said.<\/p>\n
Of the council, only Roger Dickinson expressed mild concern, saying that both the zoo and Land Park were \u201cvery special,\u201d though he also said it was okay to launch the study.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, the outcome is certainly not preordained,\u201d Dickinson said.<\/p>\n
What happens next<\/p>\n
Two people who were in the crowd during the meeting and didn\u2019t speak were Dan Simon, who became CEO of Sacramento Zoo last year, and Elizabeth Stallard, who is president of the zoo\u2019s board of trustees.<\/p>\n
Speaking to The Sacramento Bee shortly after the council voted, Simon expressed satisfaction with the meeting. \u201cIt was good to see the support from the council,\u201d Simon said. \u201cI think they recognize that it\u2019s a starting point, not the end point.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon said he expects the working group\u2019s first meeting to occur in May. The agreement ends on Sept. 1.<\/p>\n
The MOU indicates that the group will include representatives of neighborhood community organizations.<\/p>\n
At a Land Park Community Association meeting in March, Stallard stressed that if the zoo wasn\u2019t able to expand in Land Park, it would have to look at moving once more. Following the council\u2019s vote, Stallard said the possibility of a move was \u201c900%\u201d still on the table.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is always on the table,\u201d Stallard said. \u201cWe have to plan for the zoo\u2019s future and the 14.3 acres is not enough space.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Land Park Community Association grew out of a protracted fight in the 1980s that residents had with the city and won, staving off a plan at the time to expand the zoo into the park.<\/p>\n
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