{"id":365873,"date":"2026-06-18T16:12:29","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T16:12:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/365873\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T16:12:29","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T16:12:29","slug":"sacramento-zoo-wants-to-grow-by-40-heres-what-residents-think","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/365873\/","title":{"rendered":"Sacramento Zoo wants to grow by 40%. Here’s what residents think"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since the Elk Grove relocation collapsed last year, the Sacramento Zoological Society has proposed expanding beyond the zoo’s current 14.3-acre footprint.<\/p>\n

SACRAMENTO, Calif. \u2014 The Sacramento Zoo’s<\/a> proposed expansion in William Land Regional Park<\/a> is entering its next phase as neighbors get a closer look at what the project could mean for both the zoo and the surrounding park.<\/p>\n

At a community open house Wednesday evening, residents reviewed detailed concepts for expanding the nearly 100-year-old zoo as leaders consider what its next century could look like.<\/p>\n

For attendees like David Khedry, seeing the proposal in person helped make sense of what he had previously only read about.<\/p>\n

“Having somebody narrate that for me. Not just looking at a map but actually understanding where the new boundaries were going to be was really helpful,” Khedry said.<\/p>\n

Since the Elk Grove relocation collapsed last year, the Sacramento Zoological Society has proposed expanding beyond the zoo’s current 14.3-acre footprint by using land north and southeast of the existing campus.<\/p>\n

The proposal would add nearly six acres to the zoo, increasing its size by about 40%. But some residents said they still need more information before deciding whether to support the plan.<\/p>\n

“There are more questions to be asked than we have answers to right now,” Land Park resident Dale Claypool said.<\/p>\n

Claypool said he wants to know how the proposal could affect the area across the street from the zoo.<\/p>\n

“I am going to be interested in seeing just what the details behind it are. For example, in the area across the street, there’s a beautiful stand of trees. It basically takes up most of that area, and we’re hoping that those remain,” Claypool said.<\/p>\n

Other residents like Heather Simoni hopes planners explore additional zoo parking and a shuttle service options to keep the zoo visitors from parking in the neighborhoods.<\/p>\n

“I am glad that they are going to add a crosswalk and hopefully a stoplight and not just a stop sign, because people do not stop effectively,” said Simoni, Lake Park Resident.<\/p>\n

Zoo leaders said the expansion would help the Sacramento Zoo better serve both animals and future visitors.<\/p>\n

“The last time we were looking at expansion of relocating within Sacramento, the parcel across the street wasn’t available. It was being occupied by the Pony ride operator,” Sacramento Zoo Board President Elizabeth Stallard said.<\/p>\n

The zoo also said community feedback has already prompted changes to the proposal. The garden area north of the zoo, where the statue of Charles Swanston sits, would now remain in place.<\/p>\n

“That is what most of the neighbors were concerned about. That is the daily walking path for the whole neighborhood. It’s a picnic spot, so it continues to be a picnic spot, which is nice,” Simoni said.<\/p>\n

Additional community meetings are planned through the summer. The expansion proposal is expected to go before the Sacramento City Council in September.<\/p>\n

People who could not attend the open house can still provide feedback through an online survey.<\/a><\/p>\n

Future meeting for the Zoo Expansion:<\/p>\n

July 3 – Informational Table at the Sacramento Zoo, 11 am to 2 pm, zoo entrance plaza. (Community Day, $10 admission)\u00a0July 8 – Informational Webinar, 5 pm via Zoom.July 15 –\u00a0Community Input Open House, 5:30 to 7 pm \u2014 This is an informal opportunity for conversation regarding the proposed expansion. Drop in any time between 5:30 pm and 7 pm. Guest access is limited to only the entrance plaza and lawn area. Does not include zoo access.August 1 – Informational Table at the Sacramento Zoo, 11 am to 2 pm, zoo entrance plaza. \u00a0 (Community Day, $10 admission)August 1 – Public input and outreach strategy completedSeptember 1 – Sacramento City Council will consider expansion proposal <\/p>\n

More information on the Sacramento Zoo Expansion, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

More from ABC10: Sacramento Zoo revises expansion after pushback over historic landmark<\/a><\/p>\n

ABC10: Watch, Download, Read<\/p>\n


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