Zoo FAQs

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The Zoo is managed and operated for the City of Watertown by the Thompson Park Conservancy, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit.

Zoo New York offers many programs available on site and through off site outreach. 4,000 students participated in on site field trips, there were 100 camp experiences, Home School programs that were new this year sold out in only a couple hours, five counties and 15 schools participated in zoo programs and 13,500 students were reached with offsite programs. 

Zoo New York had approximately 38,000 visitors this past year and we are excited to see this number grow in the years to come. We thank you for your support!

Zoo New York relies on multiple sources for support.  The Zoo receives $100,000 from  the city of Watertown for operations and $60,000 as in-kind services, $59,000 from Jefferson County and about $66,000 from New York State in the form of a ZBGA Grant.  

Other zoos in service areas similar to our size, which are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums have average operating budgets of $3,300,000 and receive and average of $1,446,000 in LOCAL government operation support, which is about 44%.  Zoo New York currently has an operating budget around $900,000 and receives $159,000 for operations from direct local government support, which is about 18%. 

There are a total of 27 employees during the peak of the busy season. This breaks down to 12 full-time, 4 part-time and 11 seasonal employees.  Positions include an Executive Director/Curator, direct animal care personnel, a Marketing Director, a Guest Services Director, an Education director, a bookkeeper, a Maintenance Supervisor and some seasonal support staff for different departments during the busy season.