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City reveals 3 possible sites for new Sacramento Zoo location Sacramento leaders approve study for zoo move Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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THREE SITES. WITH ITS WIDE OPEN SPACE, AND PLENTIFUL FOLIAGE, THE BIG MALONEY GOLF COURSES ONE OF TOP THREE CONTENDERS FOR THE SACRAMENTO ZOO’S POTENTIAL NEW HOME. >> I UNDERSTAND THE ZOO NEEDS TO BE BIGGER, BUT NOT AT BING MALONEY. WE CAN NOT GET RID OF BING MALONEY. MARLEI: LOUIS CERIANI HAS GOLFED HERE FOR TWO DECADES. HIS SON GREW UP ON THIS COURSE. >> HE STARTED PLAYING GOLF HERE. HE WAS ABOUT EIGHT. NOW HE’S 30. MARLEI: HE’S GOT HIS SITES SET SOMEWHERE ELSE FOR THE ZOO. >> I’D RATHER SEE IT AT SLEEP TRAIN. MARLEI: THE CITY UNVEILING ITS EYEING BING MALONEY, THE FORMER SLEEP TRAIN ARENA AND NORTH NATOMAS REGIONAL PARK AS THE TOP VIABLE OPTIONS FOR A ZOO MOVE. >> I’LL BE THE FIRST ONE IN LINE . TAKING MY KIDS OVER THERE FOR SURE. MARLEI: FAMILIES LIVING IN NORTH NATOMAS WANT THE ECONOMIC ENGINE. >> IT’S JUST WIN-WIN FOR THE ANIMALS AND FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT GETS THE ZOO. MARLEI: BUT THEY’RE SPLIT ON TRAFFIC CONCERNS. >> I DON’T REALLY WANT A LOT MORE TRAFFIC AT THE PARK AREA. LAND PARK IS VERY CROWDED ON THE WEEKENDS. I LIKE THIS PARK THE WAY THAT IT IS. >> THERE IS ALWAYS AT THE SAME TIME, A LITTLE PRICE THAT WE HAVE TO PAY, IF THAT’S TRAFFIC. THAT OK BY ME. NO PROBLEM. MARLEI: NATOMAS RESIDENTS FILLED THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING WHERE LEADERS APPROVED A STUDY ON THE FEASIBILITY OF THE ZOO MOVING. >> I HOPE YOU SEE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THE ZOO TO MOVE TO NATOMAS. MARLEI: NINE-YEAR-OLD ASHLEY HANDING OVER DOZENS OF LETTERS FROM OTHER KIDS IN HOPES OF CATCHING THE MAYOR’S EAR. >> HE WOULD BE CONVINCED THAT IT’S BETTER FOR THE ZOO TO MOVE. MARLEI: THE MOVE WOULD MEAN A HOLE LEFT IN LAND PARK THAT OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS HOPE THEY CAN FILL. >> THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN WHAT COULD BE A LONG JOURNEY TO RELOCATE THE ZOO AND BRING A WORLD-CLASS DESTINATION TO SACRAMENTO AND MAKE A BETTER LIVES FOR THE ANIMALS AND BIGGER IMPACT ON CONSERVATION MARLEI: THE STUDY WILL TAKE ABOUT SIX MONTHS TO COMPLETE. AS FAR AS THE GOLF COURSE, THE ZOO SAYS ITS UNCLEAR IF THE COURSE WILL HAVE TO BE CLOSED TO -- CLOSE. HE SAYS ALL OPTIONS ARE ON THE TABLE. GU