WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – The zoo in Watertown is at a crossroads.
“Can the conservancy under the current model continue to operate the zoo,” Zoo New York executive director Larry Sorel said.
Zoo New York officials posed that question Wednesday night to nearly two dozen north country business owners. Representatives spoke for more than an hour to the Greater Watertown – North Country Chamber of Commerce about the challenges facing the zoo, specifically the funding of it.
“We have some short-term concerns, and we have long-term as well,” said Mark Irwin, who chairs the Thompson Park Conservancy board of directors. “We need to make sure that we can make it through the winter, and also into the long term, how are we going to operate the zoo that it can actually grow, and that it can thrive.”
Two options were discussed for future funding. The first is to leverage the conservancy, meaning to find the needed funding through a variety of ways, including admissions, increased government assistance, or possibly tax dollars.
The second, to give the zoo back to the city.
“If they can’t operate it, it may be the only choice,” city manager Ken Mix said. “It’s not one that anyone at the city, staff, or the city council would like to entertain at this point. But if they have to close up and walk away, it becomes the city’s.”
Sorel says there is still a future for the zoo here in Watertown, but the question of who would be in control of it is still unanswered.
“We cannot close the zoo,” he said. “All we can do is say we can’t run it anymore. Nobody likes that decision, but the reality is we need support, financial support.”
Zoo New York and Jefferson Community College are sending a survey out to Jefferson County residents to gauge their opinions for funding ideas. Zach Grady.
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