Zoo Project Hits Fundraising Milestone
Jan 30, 2025 11:08AM ● By Sean P. Thomas, City Editor
The Elk Grove City Council received an update on design work for the currently unnamed zoo that is slated to move to Elk Grove in the coming years, including a peek at the giraffe zone, entryway, savanna, flamingo and okapi enclosures. The design work is about 30% complete. Rendering courtesy of city of Elk Grove
ELK GROVE, CA - The Sacramento Zoological Society announced it had raised $17.5 million of the $50 million needed to start construction of the new zoo expected to move to Elk Grove in the near future.
The funds, in the form of pledges, inch the unnamed zoo closer to its goal of moving from its current 14-acre location in William Land Park to a nearly 65-acre plot of land near Kammerer Road and Lotz Parkway in Elk Grove.
The announcement was made at the Elk Grove City Council’s Jan. 22 meeting.
Deputy City Manager Kara Reddig said the zoological society expects to raise $27.5 million by May 1, $30 million by Jan. 1, 2026; $40 million by May 1, 2026; and the full $50 million by Jan. 1, 2027.
“We are overwhelmingly grateful and pleasantly surprised by the support we have received from our community,” Elizabeth Stallard, board president of the Sacramento Zoological Society said. “We are confident we will get there.”
If the fundraising milestones are not reached at any time, the city could suspend design work and not issue any further work orders until the milestone is achieved.
City manager Jason Behrmann clarified that the pledges can be met through cash contributions, naming or sponsorship rights proceeds or in-kind material contributions.
Behrmann said that when pledges are made, city staff is sent to “verify” the accuracy of the pledges.
Only $1.9 million of the total fundraising amount has been in cash and remitted to the city, according to Behrmann.
“Before we go to construction on the zoo, we have to have the full $50 million, cash in deposit in the bank account, before we go to construction,” Behrmann said. “Until we go to construction, pledges or a combination of cash are sufficient. That is what the funding agreement says.”
The cost-sharing agreement requires an operating agreement between the city and the zoo by June 30, which city staff said is currently being worked on.
The city is currently about 30% into the design phase, which city staff plans to complete by 2026.
City Senior Engineer Sam Grimm provided a design update to the City Council before the fundraising milestone was announced.
It included a look at early concepts for the giraffe zone, entryway, savanna, flamingo and okapi enclosures.
The hope is to start construction in early 2027, if all fundraising agreements are met.
Later in the meeting, the City Council opted to table a decision on the new zoo’s name, after council members voiced concern with the proposed name “The Greater Sacramento Zoo at Elk Grove.”
Following the discussion, the council agreed to direct staff to continue working on a name that potentially highlights Elk Grove in a more prominent manner, and return with three potential options at its Feb. 12 meeting.
Stallard said she was concerned that not having a name could hurt fundraising efforts.