Sacramento Zoo seeks city’s nod to expand longtime Land Park site

Sacramento Zoo is seeking the city’s permission to expand its Land Park footprint in what would be the site’s largest expansion since the 1960s, zoo officials announced Monday.

The Sacramento Zoological Society’s request involves two parcels: a 1.4-acre plot at the zoo’s northern boundary; and a second, larger 4.4 acres across Land Park Drive from the zoo — now-vacant land that once was home to the zoo’s pony rides. The zoo’s request would expand the zoo to 20.1 acres from its present 14.1 acres, a 41% increase.

“We have always known that the zoo needs more space to meet the needs of our animals, support our mission, and provide the experiences our guests expect and deserve,” said Elizabeth Stallard, president of the Sacramento Zoological Society’s Board of Trustees, in a statement announcing the expansion request. “We are thrilled to be working with the city on this effort, and can’t wait to plan for the zoo’s future right here.“

Sacramento city leaders have not yet decided but the proposal has early support from Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty, who said the expansion would ensure the century-old zoo will remain in Sacramento for “the next 100 years.”

Proposed zoo expansion

Source: Sacramento Zoo

The Sacramento Zoo has served this community for nearly 100 years, and is a beloved Sacramento institution,” McCarty said in the zoo society’s statement. “This expansion and partnership with the city will make sure the zoo is here for the next 100 years.”

The request comes after the Sacramento Zoological Society in April backed away from an agreement to relocate the zoo to Elk Grove. The decision deeply disappointed Elk Grove leaders eager to bring a larger, modern regional zoo to their city after four years of planning and a 2024 Elk Grove City Council vote to approve the planned $302 million project to build a new zoo.

Zoo officials in April dropped their plans a day before they were obligated to meet a deadline to contribute $10 million toward the project. The society had agreed to provide $50 million toward the project, much of that through donor contributions, by May 2027.

Elk Grove and zoo officials later cited “economic uncertainty and increased construction costs” as reasons for shutting down the deal.

This story was originally published September 22, 2025 at 11:04 AM.

Darrell Smith

The Sacramento Bee

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Darrell Smith is a local reporter for The Sacramento Bee. He joined The Bee in 2006 and previously worked at newspapers in Palm Springs, Colorado Springs and Marysville. Smith was born and raised at Beale Air Force Base and lives in Elk Grove.