Erie, Pa (WJET/WFXP)– Erie City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to transfer ownership of the Erie Zoo to Erie Events, a move seen as crucial for the zoo’s future.

The decision, made during a council meeting, involves transferring approximately 96 acres of land, including the zoo and surrounding areas, to Erie Events. This transfer is expected to provide the zoo with a stable financial future, as Erie Events will now provide an annual payment of $500,000 to the zoo.


Erie Zoo in danger of closing without response from city on transferring ownership

“I have supreme confidence in Erie Events. Logistically, it is something that really is going to be needed at the zoo,” said Ed Brzezinski, a council member of the City of Erie.

The resolution passed by the council includes not only the zoo but also neighboring facilities such as a golf course, picnic grounds, and horseshoe courts. However, the city will continue to operate these sites, except for the ice rink.

Roo Kojancie, President and CEO of the Erie Zoo, expressed relief and optimism following the vote. “I think we’re all breathing a little easier right now,” Kojancie said, highlighting the importance of collaboration between the zoo and Erie Events.


Transfer of Erie Zoo ownership approved

Gus Pine, Executive Director of Erie Events, indicated that the next steps involve forming an agreement with the zoological society to manage the zoo. “We want to keep them on in terms of managing the zoo,” Pine stated.

Council President Mel Witherspoon initially considered voting against the resolution, but ultimately supported it after listening to public comments during the meeting.

The transfer of ownership is seen as a significant step towards securing the future of the Erie Zoo, with plans for collaboration between Erie Events and the zoo to enhance the facility for future generations. “We encourage everyone to continue to be on board with this; it’s a fantastic opportunity for the zoo, for the entire zoo campus, for the city, and then for the region,” Kojancie added.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WJET/WFXP. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WJET/WFXP staff before being published.