WATERTOWN â The zoo located in Thompson Park is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2021 with several events planned during the year. Now named Zoo New York, zoo officials announced that the events will build up and lead to its Centennial Celebration to be held on Aug. 28. In July, the zoo unveiled a new name and logo. It had been called the New York State Zoo at Thompson Park. Zoo New York opened its door to the community in 1921 as the Park Zoo Club, which made its first deposit of $10.40 and purchased the first animal for the zooâs collection, Bucko the Bear.