The Potter Park Zoological Gardens was first started in 1912 by Jim Hough and Sarah Potter in a 58 acre piece of land in Lansing. At first, it was just called the Potter Park but later evolved to a zoological garden when a herd of elk was donated to it by a man named James M. Turner in 1915. Later of the same year, another man named Charles J. Davis brought deer to the park, which eventually led to the park becoming the city?s first ever zoological park. The park continued to develop and later on housed a bear, raccoons, and other animals. On July 5, 1915, the Potter Park was dedicated, and 27 acres of land was added to it two years later. Today, it is home to over 500 animals and is visited by thousands of people monthly.