The City of Elk Grove and the Sacramento Zoological Society agreed to study the relocation the Sacramento Zoo to Elk Grove, where the zoo could significantly expand to benefit the care of the animals and improve the guest experience. The new zoo would be approximately 65 acres and would likely be built in multiple phases over several years. The shared goal is to build a world-class zoo and cultural attraction for the entire region.

A feasibility study is a written report that tells the reader whether a proposed project is feasible from a physical, operational, and financial perspective. In the broadest sense, it outlines the potential viability of a project.

The feasibility study was prepared by RS&S (Relevant Strategies and Solutions), a leader in zoo facility planning, under contract to the Sacramento Zoological Society. The City, along with its own team of financial and zoological consultants, have reviewed the plan. View the feasibility study.

City staff met with the Sacramento Zoological Society and RS&S on a regular basis to provide input into the study’s preparation. City staff also researched zoos and zoo design, construction, and operations best practices as well as best practices for how cities partner with zoo operators like the Sacramento Zoological Society. Field visits to two zoos (Fresno and Houston) occurred in fall 2021. The City retained its own zoo expert to help review the feasibility study and advise the City throughout the life of the project on all aspects of project planning, design, construction, financing, and partnership.

The City continues to define the infrastructure needs for the zoo, including water, sewer, drainage, and roadway/transportation needs near the zoo property so that these improvements can be designed and constructed to best serve the future zoo and surrounding areas.

The current zoo is 95 years old and requires extensive renovations to both the habitats and its other facilities to even meet current - let alone future - animal care standards.  At 14.7 acres, the zoo’s current footprint is landlocked and unable to provide the necessary space for many of its beloved residents, including giraffes, big cats, and apes. Over the past 30 years, the zoo has lost many of its iconic animal species due to space constraints, including tiger, hippopotamus, and bear. This decline will continue if the zoo stays where it is.  The lack of a visitor parking lot at the zoo’s current location also presents an insurmountable obstacle to both expanding access to the zoo and increasing attendance.

The  Sacramento Zoological Society’s Board of Trustees is responsible for the care and welfare of the zoo’s animals. Given the challenges that many species face in the wild, zoos have been called upon to take a significant leadership role in saving species from extinction.  The current zoo site undermines the Zoo’s ability to meet this important mission.  The Board of Trustees also has a fiduciary responsibility to ensure the long-term viability of the zoo and ensure that future generations can enjoy this valued regional amenity.

A new zoo will allow their wildlife care professionals to create expansive natural habitats, bolster conservation programs, and allow the zoo to better serve its educational mission by accommodating more than twice the number of guests per year.

Elk Grove is well positioned to provide the physical space and financial support needed to build a new, modern zoological park. Building the zoo in Elk Grove will enable the zoo to remain in, and serve, the Sacramento Region while having the space needed to triple in size and double in visitation. The Society and the City have a shared vision for what the new zoo can be and the impact it can have on the region and the community. They also share values supporting science education, habitat and wildlife conservation, and providing the public parks and recreation spaces. The new zoo will be an important economic development driver and cultural destination and attraction for Elk Grove. The zoo could provide one million annual visitors and as many as 250 jobs and be an anchor in the continued development of the south part of the City.

Talks between the City and Society started in late June 2021. Those evolved to approval of the Exclusive Negotiating Agreement and public announcement on September 23, 2021. The feasibility study was prepared and reviewed by the City and Society in March 2022. Based upon the findings, the parties entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to continue exploring the design and financing for a new zoo.

The City and Zoological Society are committed to public transparency and plan to provide the public regular updates throughout the process. There will be multiple opportunities for residents, donors, members, and visitors to comment about the project, and more details of those opportunities will be forthcoming as the project progresses. If you have questions or comments in the meantime, e-mail the City at zoo@elkgrovecity.org.

The Zoo Feasibility Study includes four main components:

1. Vision for the project – This includes the overall goals for the project (e.g., animal health, safety, and comfort, education and conservation, connection with the community) and the objectives for the visitor experience.
2. Concept program and plan – This will start with a list of the species, habitats, facilities, and other site programing that will make up the project.  Species selection will consider our local climate conditions and habitat size will align with the standards of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (the accreditation organization for zoos in North America).  Using this information, a design team will then create a “bubble diagram” illustrating how the program and plan could be organized across the project site.  The diagram will illustrate everything from visitor parking and entry, to habitat areas, dining facilities, and support facilities including administration offices, vet clinics, and animal holding areas.  The program and plan will also illustrate the potential phasing of project construction.
3. ROM Budget – A ROM Budget, or Rough Order of Magnitude Budget, provides a high-level analysis of the potential costs to construct the project.  The budget is based upon the concept program and plan and is informed by the construction costs of recent projects at other zoo facilities in North America.  This will not be a line-item budget with extensive detail.  Rather, costs will likely be described as $/acre or $/square foot and will include substantial contingencies.
4. Strategic Business Plan – Based upon the concept program and plan and budget, the study will develop a high-level financial plan to fund construction of the zoo, and a high-level business plan to fund startup and long-term operation of the zoo.  The business plan will include an evaluation of both potential sources of revenue for construction (e.g., cash, private donors, and city financing) and operation (e.g., ticket sales, concession and store sales, and parking revenue).

The project could be located on approximately 65 acres of property in south Elk Grove at the northwest intersection of Kammerer Road and Lotz Parkway. As of 2014, the property is zoned a combination of light industrial and office, and a zoo is allowed in those zones with a conditional use permit. This site is being used for development of the conceptual design and, if the project is approved, would be the selected site.

In May of 2019, the City of Sacramento pursued a feasibility study to examine three potential sites - North Natomas Regional Park, Sleep Train Arena, and Bing Maloney Golf Course.  It was communicated to the Sacramento Zoological Society that none of these sites are viable options for relocation.

The Sacramento Zoo is already a regional destination attracting half a million guests from Northern California and Western Nevada.  Wherever the zoo is located, it will create memorable wildlife, educational, and family-friendly experiences for our community.

Funding of a new zoo is expected to be a partnership. As part of that partnership, the City has secured a potential site. The City has committed in principle to provide the land at the City’s costs. It is likely that additional City funding for construction and operation of the zoo will be necessary. A formal Plan of Finance will be prepared and considered as part of the possible approval of the project in 2023/2024.

The concept plan will continue to be refined and an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will be prepared. A formal Plan of Finance will also be prepared. These materials will be presented to the Planning Commission and, ultimately, the City Council for final decision on the project in 2023/2024.