Utica Zoo, located in Roscoe-Conkling Park, has been serving the region for over a century. With a dream to create a park like Central Park in New York City, Thomas R. Proctor donated the land in 1909 and hired Frederick Law Olmstead Jr., the renowned landscape architect who designed Central Park, to plan the zoo's scenic walkways.

It has since grown from three fallow deer in 1914 to over 99 species of animals today. The zoo spans 80 acres of land, with 35 currently developed. Operated by the Utica Zoological Society since 1964, the zoo offers educational programs, animal encounters, and wildlife enrichment.

Visitors can explore attractions such as the Wildlife Building, Lion exhibit, California sea lion exhibit, and the Outdoor White-Handed Gibbon Living Rainforest exhibit. Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, Utica Zoo aims to provide unique experiences, promote wildlife appreciation, and deliver excellent animal care. With their recently unveiled master plan, the zoo plans to expand and enhance exhibits, including giraffes, otters, tigers, and orangutans, to ensure a memorable visitor experience for generations to come