Inside ZAPP’s Efforts to Support the Jackson Zoo and West Jackson

For more than a century, the Jackson Zoo has been a place where families gather to marvel at tigers, watch flamingos strut, and introduce children to animals they might otherwise see only on television.

Today, the zoo remains one of Jackson’s recognizable attractions. Yet it also sits at the center of an ongoing conversation about investment, neighborhood revitalization and whether the facility should remain where it is or relocate elsewhere.

While opinions differ on the zoo's future, one thing is clear: a dedicated group of volunteers is working to ensure the area continues to move forward.

Meet the Zoo Area Progressive Partnership, better known as ZAPP. ZAPP was created several decades ago to help regenerate the neighborhoods surrounding the Jackson Zoo. From the beginning, its mission extended beyond animal exhibits and special events. Members recognized that the future of the zoo and the surrounding community were deeply connected. Today, that vision continues through beautification projects, volunteer efforts, fundraising campaigns, and advocacy aimed at strengthening both the zoo and the neighborhood it calls home. 

“After you see the passion and the love and the history that they have for the zoo, it kind of pulls at your heartstrings,” said ZAPP member Ray McCants.

Founded more than 100 years ago, the Jackson Zoo dates back to 1919 and has grown into a destination filled with historic structures and memories spanning generations. According to McCants, several features throughout the zoo are listed on historic registers, making the property more than just a collection of animal exhibits.

“It’s a zoo full of history,” he said.

The group, which includes about 25 members, meets monthly at the zoo and welcomes new participants. Some members have been involved for more than two decades.

One of ZAPP’s current fundraising efforts focuses on the zoo’s flamingo habitat. The goal is to create a breeding area that would allow visitors to observe the full life cycle of flamingos, from egg laying to hatching.

Imagine being a child who gets to witness a baby flamingo emerge from its shell for the very first time. It’s the kind of experience that can spark a lifelong interest in wildlife, science and conservation. With today’s technology, it could even become a community-wide moment, with a live camera allowing classrooms, families and animal lovers across Jackson to follow the journey in real time.

That’s the kind of experience ZAPP hopes to make possible.

McCants believes one of the Jackson Zoo’s greatest strengths is the unusually close viewing experience.

“A thin piece of glass is between you and a tiger,” he said, noting that visitors often find themselves much closer to the animals than at larger zoos.

The zoo also presents an opportunity for young people to get involved in meaningful community service.

Through partnerships with local businesses, nonprofit organizations, foundations, volunteers, and residents, ZAPP continues to help secure resources and support for projects benefiting both the Zoo and the broader community. 

Recent volunteer projects have included painting seating areas, creating colorful footprints leading into the zoo and assisting with beautification efforts. ZAPP has welcomed everyone from elementary-age volunteers to students from Jackson State University, Veterans, and active duty military. 

Visitors recently got a firsthand look at what investment can produce during the Grand Reveal of Paths to Discovery and Zippity Zoo Day.

The celebration drew families from across the region, with guests lining up outside the Jackson Zoo before the gates opened. Many arrived eager to experience the newly transformed entrance, celebrate the reopening of the splash pad and enjoy a day designed to showcase the possibilities of the zoo and surrounding area.

Supported by the Community Foundation for Mississippi, the project brought together local artists, volunteers, neighborhood advocates and zoo supporters to reimagine the visitor experience from the moment guests entered the grounds. New murals, educational art installations, colorful pathways, gathering spaces and interactive elements created a more welcoming environment while highlighting the creativity and pride of the surrounding community.

Throughout the day, children moved between oversized games and animal exhibits, families gathered around newly completed artwork and visitors cooled off at the splash pad, which reopened for the first time in several years. More than an unveiling, the event served as a visible reminder of what can happen when residents, nonprofit organizations and community partners rally around a shared vision.

The improvements also reflect a larger effort taking place throughout the zoo area. Just beyond the zoo, Livingston Park has seen its own wave of investment, including the recent opening of a new disc golf course that expands recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike, and has been drawing in visitors from around the state. Together, these projects reinforce the idea that the zoo, Livingston Park and the surrounding neighborhoods are not separate destinations, but interconnected assets that contribute to the quality of life in Jackson.  

Discussions about the zoo’s future are likely to continue. Some residents believe relocating the facility could unlock new opportunities. Others see preserving and investing in its historic location as part of a broader effort to strengthen the surrounding community.

ZAPP doesn’t claim to have all the answers.

Instead, its members show up each month ready to paint a wall, raise funds, plant an idea, organize a project or simply advocate for a place they love.

In many ways, that’s what makes the organization special. 

Whether you’re interested in conservation, local history, community development or simply enjoy watching a flamingo strut around like it owns the place, the Jackson Zoo remains a trip worth taking.

Membership in ZAPP costs just $20 annually, and the organization welcomes anyone willing to bring ideas, listen and work as part of a team. Residents interested in volunteering, joining the organization, supporting projects, or learning more about upcoming initiatives are encouraged to attend a monthly meeting or connect with ZAPP on Facebook. 

Whether the contribution is a donation, a volunteer shift, a fresh idea or simply the price of admission, the story of ZAPP is ultimately a story about stewardship. Nearly 30 years after its founding, the organization continues to champion the belief that community assets matter, neighborhoods matter and the future of Jackson is worth investing in. Their work serves as a reminder that the future of the city will not be shaped solely by major projects or outside investments, but by residents who continue to show up, work together and believe that the places they love are worth preserving for the now and next generation.