As jack-o’-lanterns are carved and fall leaves turn golden across Land Park, the Sacramento Zoo is preparing for its biggest transformation in over half a century: a 40% expansion that will keep the beloved institution rooted in its longtime home instead of relocating to Elk Grove.
The Sacramento Zoological Society submitted a request to the City of Sacramento to expand the zoo’s footprint from 14.3 to 20.1 acres—a 40% increase and the largest expansion since the 1960s.
The expansion would add a 1.4-acre parcel north of the current zoo and a 4.4-acre lot across Land Park Drive, bringing the total area to 20.1 acres after replacing the former home of pony rides. Sacramento City Council approval is anticipated early next year, and the community has expressed strong support.
“The goal has always been to provide the best possible animal exhibits for the animals and the guest experience for the public,” Robert Churchill, Executive Director of the Sacramento Zoo, said. “All of those pointed in the direction of needing more space.”
(Henry Yee)
The project requires City Council approval before moving into the design and fundraising stages. Once approved, the zoo will begin a capital campaign to fund the expansion while staying open throughout construction.
“We’ve had a lot of positive feedback from the community about making the Land Park site work for us,” Churchill said. “There’s a lot packed into 15 acres, and with more space, we can add new exhibits and relocate some of our current programming.”
Churchill said the city’s contribution will likely come in land rather than funding. The project will be financed through the zoo’s existing reserves and a future capital campaign, with construction completed in phases and new exhibits, such as the orangutan habitat, opening as they are finished.
(Sacramento Zoo)
A major priority for the expansion is education. Plans include a new education hub with classrooms and a formal bus drop-off zone to accommodate more than 50,000 students who visit annually on field trips.
Environmental studies on the zoo’s footprint will accompany the city’s approval process and ensure the expansion aligns with the zoo’s focus on California and North American species. The zoo welcomes about half a million visitors annually, with 25 cents from each admission going toward funding wildlife conservation.
“We sponsor conservation projects with over 16 species right now, and as we expand our living collection, there will be opportunities to expand the number of species we support,” Churchill said.
Animal welfare and support is a key priority for the zoo. Expanding the site will improve the experience for the animals.
“This expansion honors generations of family visitors with similar lasting memories—now with modern habitats and programs,” David Yee, Sacramento Zoo board member and former Land Park resident, said.
Land Park residents have also expressed strong support for the expansion and excitement that the zoo will remain in the neighborhood it has called home for nearly a century.
“I’ve been coming here since I was a kid, and it’s comforting to see the zoo grow here instead of moving away,” Sarah Martinez, a Sacramento resident visiting with her children, said.
Elizabeth Stallard, President of the Board of the Sacramento Zoo, said education and conservation will remain at the heart of the zoo’s mission as it grows.
The zoo hosts thousands of students on field trips each year and provides year-round volunteer programs for teens to gain hands-on educational experience. Through its ZooMobile program, zoo educators bring interactive science lessons directly to Title I and low-income elementary schools.
“We already teach visitors about animals, sustainability, and STEM education through programs like our ZooMobile,” Stallard said. “At the new site, we’ll continue those efforts—only bigger and better, with new animals and spaces that will enhance the experience for everyone.”
Kevin Bell, Chief Strategy Officer of the Sacramento Zoo, emphasized that space has long been the zoo’s biggest challenge.
“This expansion will finally allow Sacramento to meet modern standards while creating a more interactive experience for both animals and guests,” Bell said.
