Duluth weighs replacing zoo; supporters say it's needed

Backers of the Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth are fighting to keep animals at the attraction as the city debates its future.

City officials are weighing whether to transform the zoo into a different kind of public place that won't require a subsidy.

Last week, Duluth officials laid out a series of options for the zoo's future. The city estimates it would cost at least $12 million to upgrade the zoo, with an annual subsidy of about $500,000 to operate it.

If the zoo is transformed, possibilities include replacing it with an adventure park or a park with an event center and amphitheater.

But zoo supporters don't want to see it go away. The community benefits from a zoo, said John Scott, president of the board of the Lake Superior Zoological Society.

"We know we must continue to change but we also believe there is a great value, including financial value, for having a zoo in our region for all of us to enjoy," Scott said.

Duluth officials plan to identify their preferred option for the property this summer and submit it for public review.

Scott, however, said a zoo makes Duluth a better place to live and visit.

"We stand ready to work with the city council, people of Duluth, to create a plan to keep our zoo healthy well into the future," Scott said.