Farewell…The Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation Announces Its End After Two Decades of Devotion
Flamingo at the Sequoia Park Zoo. [Image from the Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation. ]
The Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation (SPZF) is a 501(c)(3) established in 2004 and is the philanthropic, nonprofit partner that has proudly supported the City of Eureka’s Sequoia Park Zoo for over 20 years. In two decades SPZF cultivated over 26,000 donors and innovative partnerships, and inspired collaborative community engagement through fundraising, promotions and events. SPZF has raised nearly $15 million since its inception and has been successful in securing and organizing funding for many capital projects to enhance the zoo experience including:
- 2004: Barnyard and Contact Corral
- 2005: The Arkley Pavillion
- 2007: Bill’s Garden
- 2008: Hilfiker Aviary Renovation
- 2010: The Red Panda and Muntjak Habitat
- 2011: Flamingos, Cavies, and Screamers Habitats
- 2014: Watershed Heroes Project
- 2016: McClean Raptor Aviary
- 2017: Lamoree Learning Lab
- 2019: Vintage Snack Cart Renovation
- 2020: The Redwood Sky Walk
- 2022/23: The Bear and Coyote Habitat
It is with a heavy heart that the Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation announces the end of an era in its decision to dissolve the organization in the coming months.
Over the last several years, the Sequoia Park Zoo has grown and changed to become the premier community and tourist destination SPZF intended when the organization formed as the philanthropic partner to the City of Eureka. With the launch of world-class interpretive experiences such as the Watershed Heroes Project, the Redwood Sky Walk and the new Bear and Coyote Habitat, the zoo has seen —and continues to see— record attendance with visitors from all over the world. The City of Eureka reports over $2.6 million in zoo revenue in 2023 alone. It is this positive and successful growth and development of our neighborhood zoo nestled in the redwoods that has piqued interest from the City of Eureka to assume greater responsibility for ongoing fundraising, membership, promotions, marketing and events at the zoo. SPZF has decided to gracefully pass the baton.Sequoia Park Zoo entrance [Image from the Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation]
Over the coming months, SPZF will map out the strategic sunsetting of the organization by drafting its plan for dissolution, articulating how remaining assets will be distributed and specifying how remaining liabilities will be addressed. SPZF is committed to ensuring that our community’s generous donations are directed toward the projects for which those funds were given. You may follow updates regarding the dissolution process at www.spzfoundation.org and in SPZF’s eChatter Newsletter.
Image from the Sequoia Park Zoo foundation.
The Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation’s impact at Sequoia Park Zoo was and continues to be the successful legacy of all of our esteemed stakeholders, community leaders, partners, donors, board members, patrons and volunteers. It has been a privilege to support the zoo in becoming the international attraction it is today, working alongside those devoting time, talent, and funds over two decades. Thank you for twenty years of your support.
Over the coming months, SPZF will map out the strategic sunsetting of the organization by drafting its plan for dissolution, articulating how remaining assets will be distributed and specifying how remaining liabilities will be addressed. SPZF is committed to ensuring that our community’s generous donations are directed toward the projects for which those funds were given. You may follow updates regarding the dissolution process at 
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Is this good? Is this bad? Seems…not good?
It’s not as good as it is bad but not as bad as it may seem 🤔
My question also. Is it still going to be open? Are they just changing hands?
“It is this positive and successful growth and development of our neighborhood zoo nestled in the redwoods that has piqued interest from the City of Eureka to assume greater responsibility for ongoing fundraising, membership, promotions, marketing and events at the zoo. SPZF has decided to gracefully pass the baton.”
The non-profit foundation that started in 2004 is ending and the City of Eureka is taking over. The zoo is not closing.
That’s how I read it. But, oh boy, the City of Eureka??
I was wondering the same thing
So, the city is squeezing them out.
Well-earned kudos to the Foundation! Folks who cared enough about the zoo to do something.
That’s not how I see it
I heard someone didn’t like the newest hire at the Foundation …
tell us more
Politics ruins everything. What did you hear?
I would believe that, was pretty surprised to see that person hired. Not someone who comes to mind for the zoo vibe. At all. Wooey with a capital W barely covers it!!!
Changing ones name to the term that person chose was my first tip off not to work with person. Thats just me tho.
Knew that person in my college years with original name.
Not to be rude, but just cuz you can plan a wedding doesnt mean you are a good fit for a foundation! Hiring committees need to do their homework.
That said, Id really like to hear what happened, weird timing wise with this persons hire&foundation going under. Not blaming person, just curious.
So let me see if I have this straight? You knew this person when you were in college 30 years ago. You don’t think they have a “Zoo Vibe” because they are too “Wooey”? You refused to work with this person because they changed their name to something you don’t approve of and you don’t think they are a good fit for any foundation because they are also a wedding planner? But after spewing all that judgement and prejudice you want us to believe you’re not blaming them for what you seem to think is some gigantic failure that led the foundation to”go under”?
Please be more specific with your unsubstantiated rumors. Who didn’t like the newest hire? Who is the newest hire? How could a single new hire result in the dissolution of an entire board that has been incredibly successful for the past 20 years?
It’s absolute animal cruelty to confine a physically capable naturally wild animal. Just look at their sad faces next time, even snakes look miserable at a zoo. Open the prison gates and free the unwilling prisoners!
Some of the animals were rescued abandoned from the wild. Bears were found as cubs during wildfires.
One should read “Thought To Exist In the Wild: Awakening From the Nightmare of Zoos” by Derrick Jensen and Karen Tweedy-Holmes.
The eagles, crows, and owl all have injuries that would lower their chances of survival in the wild as well.
Nature will not be kind to them if we do that. To loose them into a wild that they are not prepared for would be cruelty at its highest. Providing better and better accommodations and enrichments are the best we can do for them. Hope that they find better places to be taken care of.
There has been a trend over recent years to have non-releaseable injured local wildlife in the zoo instead of more “exotic” species, thankfully. But, then you get people who are mad the zoo has them instead of camels, hippos, and lions…
I smell politics. The foundation is responsible for the zoo’s success. I doubt the city of Eureka will do better.
I think you’re 100% right! The zoo as we know it now is probably about to get run into the ground! The foundation did an amazing job building it back to a fun destination. This is horrible new.
It’s will more likely hemorrhage money as these things are not typically self funded and more often require constant fundraising. Do some research. Publicly funded zoos and aquarium have been a big weight on the local scene they reside in. Better w a private foundation than taking up tax payer funds.
“Do some research.” ??? It sounds to me that the two of you, three actually, New school included, are on the same page, just worded differently.
I’m not connected, but the old adage might be appropriate, “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it!”. I would like to hear more.
Sounds to me like the Zoo Foundation has become a cash cow for the City and now they would like to get their grubby little paws on all that money.
Won’t manage it the same. Wait for the going out of business sign to go up. 1/2 price on bears and flamingos
Ooh, nice. I could use a new live lawn flamingo. I wonder if they’d sell me a lawn.
Sorry, this just doesn’t seem to make sense after such a successful run by the foundation. I don’t believe the city could have accomplished all of that.
I agree that significant information about why a foundation simply folds its tent and goes away seems unavailable. Only the words “remaining liabilities” is mentioned. What remaining liabilities? Why would the City take over?
So this means
NO MORE ZOO ???
It will be closed ??
No. The City of Eureka will “assume greater responsibility for ongoing fundraising, membership, promotions, marketing and events at the zoo.”
As I mentioned to someone else up the thread, it sounds to me that the two of you are on the same page, just worded differently.
As a generous supporter I feel pretty betrayed by this, I would like to know what the real story is. In the e-newsletter along with this was also the sudden cancellation of Brew at the Zoo next month…I never felt good about the announcement of the new Director in Nov., this was not a Foundational level hire. This needs some good investigative reporting, not pinning it on RHBB, it needs a reporter who slimes around in that incestual cesspool that is Eurethra
She’s been a part of the Foundation for quite some time, at least through photo ops. I’m sure she’s just as good as any other hire they could muster, too bad there was some kerfuffle.
If the foundation is the reason the entry fees are so outrageously stupid for such a small attraction, then by all means, good riddance. I seriously doubt the airheads leading Eureka will improve things, though.
The high entrance fees are set by the City of Eureka.
They should close, they ask to much money for so little animals worst zoo I’ve ever seen
The Eka Zoo is one of the best places to go & enjoy time with my children & grandchildren, and friends. The children are always happy & excited to go: The Skywalk, the critters & exhibits, and The Cafe & Store. We have a yearly family pass that is well worth the expense. The Zoo also provides educational info & activities, that welcome & encourage children to participate.