By Geena Monahan—For the North Star Reporter
For many in Attleboro, Capron Park Zoo is more than a destination — it’s a childhood memory, a weekend tradition and for some, the reason they chose to call the city home.
On Sunday, March 29, nearly 200 people gathered along County Street, where chants of “save our zoo” and honking cars marked support for keeping the nearly century-year-old landmark open.
Families lined the street as children waved signs, and one attendee in a lion costume drew smiles from passing drivers. Held five days after a contentious City Council meeting, the rally drew current and former officials alongside residents, underscoring the growing stakes in the debate.
For organizer and former city councilor Nick Lavoie, the issue is deeply personal.
“I’ve lived here my whole life,” Lavoie said. “I grew up riding my bike to the zoo.”
That connection, he said, helped fuel a rapid community response. A petition launched after Mayor Cathleen DeSimone announced plans to “reimagine” the zoo as a nature preserve and wildlife sanctuary has gathered around 10,000 signatures, with roughly 68% coming from Attleboro and North Attleborough — a level of engagement Lavoie called “impressive.”
By mid-morning, turnout had already exceeded expectations.
“For Palm Sunday, by 10:15 we had over 100 people here,” Lavoie said. “We were expecting noon to 1 (p.m.) to be the hot hour when church let out, so we’re very happy with the turnout.”
He said the focus is now shifting beyond the immediate moment.
“There’s a bit of stability right now,” Lavoie said. “But now we have to focus on the future — not just this year, but every year after.”
Community ties
For many in attendance, the zoo represents something that stretches across generations. Kevin Johnson, who attended with his family and set up a table with coloring pages for children, said the zoo shaped both his upbringing and his decision to return to the area.
“When we were looking for a place to live we came down here to visit family and my wife said, ‘You have a zoo?’” Johnson recalled. “She thought it was absolutely amazing.”
Now living within walking distance, he said the experience remains part of everyday life.
“On some mornings, you can actually hear lions,” he said. “I get to live in a land of lions — and that’s absolutely amazing.”
For Johnson, the connection has come full circle.
“Some of my happiest childhood memories were at the zoo, and now some of my children’s happiest memories are starting there,” he said. “It’s something beautiful that a lot of places don’t get to have — and it’s worth saving.”
Officials weigh in
Former Attleboro Mayor and current Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux, who attended the rally, criticized how the zoo’s financial challenges have been framed.
“This is a manufactured crisis — a self-inflicted wound on the city,” Heroux said.
He argued the zoo should be treated like other municipal departments rather than expected to operate like a business.
“This is a city department. It’s a recreational resource,” he said. “The library is not a business. The recreation department is not a business. We don’t treat those departments like we do this one.”
At the same time, he noted the zoo already offsets a significant share of its costs.
“The zoo pays for about two-thirds of its expenses,” he said. “No other city department does that.”
Heroux also pushed back on long-term capital needs discussed at the March 24 meeting, describing them as overstated.
“If you look at the city’s capital improvement plan, there are three urgent needs totaling about $520,000 — not tens of millions,” he said.
City Councilor Diana Holmes pointed to the absence of key decision-makers at the rally.
“The administration is not here.” Holmes said. “All the residents saying they want to see this remain open are here — but the people who could take action are not.”
Still, she said, the council is looking for solutions.
“We’re trying to buy 12 to 24 months for the zoo,” Holmes said, pointing to efforts to stabilize operations while exploring additional funding sources, including potential state support.
“This is our little gem,” she added. “We don’t want to lose amenities for our community.”
Hope for the future
Inside the zoo, staff say the recent surge of support is already being felt. Rob Verzone, the zoo’s operations manager who has worked there for 27 years, said attendance and memberships have increased in recent days.
“We’ve definitely been busier,” he said. “All the support we’re getting is fantastic.”
Even with the momentum a rally brings, uncertainty remains.
“It would be nice to get a definitive answer — this is what’s going to happen,” Verzone said. “We were all caught very off-guard.”