Forest Park Zoo holds fundraiser

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The jewel of Forest Park is making a comeback.

The Forest Park Zoo held its annual fundraising gala Saturday night, their biggest fundraiser of the year.

Hundreds of people turned out to support the zoo in its efforts to repair the damage caused by the October snowstorm.

“We got hit pretty hard. We had a lot of trees come down, most of our exhibits were damaged, and almost all the fencing was damaged. We still have some damage that's still here. The leopard cage still hasn't been fully repaired,” Scott Foster said.

The zoo didn't suffer any damage from the June 1st tornado but they did notice a lull in attendance in the months afterwards, as people were focused on rebuilding.

Proceeds from Saturday’s fundraiser will help the zoo finish repairs and fund new exhibits.