Attleboro mayor announces plan to keep Capron Park Zoo open, warns about city layoffs

The Capron Park Zoo in Attleboro, Massachusetts will remain open for now, but it will come at a cost. Attleboro Mayor Cathleen DeSimone announced Wednesday that the city will fund operations at the zoo in Fiscal Year 2027, and some city employees will likely be laid off. 

Last month, the mayor's proposal to potentially close the public zoo that's been in the city for nearly 90 years faced backlash. DeSimone's plan would have eliminated the zoo and transformed the space into preserve land with an animal rehabilitation center. That plan is no longer under consideration.

"The transformation plan is now off the table as we will fund the zoo in FY27 using free cash," Mayor DeSimone said. "When the Council approves the zoo budget later this spring, they will do so knowing and accepting the use of free cash."

The proposal will be presented as part of the city's budget process and will require approval from the City Council.

In a press release, the city said, "free cash represents unspent funds from the prior fiscal year that become available as revenue in the current fiscal year."

DeSimone said funding the zoo in this manner will buy more time to explore potential long-term revenue sources and more financial support for the zoo.

The mayor said the city is currently facing a $2.5 million budget deficit and it will likely mean more layoffs for city employees.

"It is important to know that because the budget deficit is largely driven by an 8.4% increase in health insurance costs, we will unfortunately need to lay off some city employees heading into FY27," DeSimone said. "Funding the zoo on the general fund in FY27 would result in more layoffs."

DeSimone said the decision to keep the zoo open was made after hearing strong support from the community. She said her original plan was "rooted" in responsibility but regrets that the message was delivered abruptly.