The two main reasons why the dream of a new Elk Grove zoo has died | Opinion
It might come as a shock that the city of Elk Grove and the Sacramento Zoological Society are scrapping plans to build a $300 million zoo almost a year after it was approved, but if you look closely at the details, it was doomed from the start.
The failure of this partnership can be explained in two parts:
First, Zoo Director Jason Jacobs quit last October. He was a key person in the partnership between the society and Elk Grove. Losing the head of an organization amid the biggest joint effort will hinder anyone, and it did in this case.
And second, a project dependent on fundraising fell way short.
The zoo claimed in their joint statement that “economic uncertainty and increased construction costs” were the key reasons for ending the plan.
The city was on the hook for 57% of the first phase of construction while the zoo had to raise $50 million. Community partnerships and developer fees were to pay the balance. As of January 2025, the zoo appeared to have raised $17.5 million of their desired goal. But it turns out only $1.9 million was in cash, the rest was just pledges, not real. They had a deadline of Thursday to raise provide to Elk Grove $10 million that the zoo simply didn’t have.
With all of this knowledge, it makes the city’s vote back in February to have the zoo called the Elk Grove - Sacramento Zoo ridiculous. The zoo hadn’t done a fraction of their part in getting funds and yet they should be in the name? Give me a break.
Quite honestly, Elk Grove dodged a bullet by this plan falling through. The city is healthy and ready to do big things to showcase their community as a place to be. The Sacramento Zoo was not ready for this moment and turned out to be ill-equipped to raise money.
The zoo planned to be built in Elk Grove was the moment for the community to find its identity. They win in the end, having a 65-acre plot of land that is primed for another main attraction.
This is just the beginning for Elk Grove’s rise. As far as the Zoo goes, they should be expecting to stay in the same campus at William Land Park in Sacramento until they can find a better fundraising structure.
This story was originally published April 30, 2025 at 3:04 PM.
