A new way of handing out municipal grants has left Cherry Brook Zoo in a real financial bind with no money coming in for January and its reserve fund depleted.
The Zoo doesn’t know about its funding for this year and any money won’t be available until February.
City Manager Pat Woods says he doesn’t think the zoo is sustainable in the long run. Cherry Brook’s Administrative Director Len Collrin doesn’t disagree if Woods is talking about the zoo operating without any help from the city.
He says most zoos are not considered for-profit organizations, but rather educational facilities, and are supported by the cities in which they are located.
In a letter to Common Council, the zoo points out it is asking for an increase in funding but without this funding, it could lose its accreditation and become just a seasonal operation.
