WATERTOWN — Zoo New York will be getting some financial help to get through the winter, with hope it will reopen in the spring.

Watertown developer Jake Johnson and the Reddick family, which owns Con Tech Building Systems in Watertown, are offering a $60,000 bridge gap loan to the financially struggling zoo in Thompson Park.

“We’re offering a lifeline,” Tim Reddick said, until the zoo can come up with “a long-term sustainable plan.”

The loan will get the zoo through the winter to pay bills and make sure the animals are cared for, Reddick said.

Last week, zoo officials announced the zoo was closing for the winter with no date to reopen. Fifteen employees were laid off.

The Thompson Park Conservancy, which runs the zoo, has made it clear that the business model for the facility must change. The conservancy made the decision to close during a board meeting Thursday.

The zoo will have a skeleton staff taking care of the animals and doing maintenance this winter, executive director Lawrence J. Sorel said.

Five zoo keepers, Sorel and a maintenance employee will continue to work over the winter months.

The loan will be used in advance of a state grant that the zoo will receive in February, he said.

“It’s a timing thing,” Sorel said.

The conservancy still needs to approve the loan at its next meeting. The terms of the loan are still being drawn up by the two businessmen and zoo officials.

Reddick has been a member of the zoo board since January. Johnson plans to join the board with a pending vote soon to confirm his nomination.

Johnson is optimistic that the zoo can be saved but said it will take hard work and the community coming together.

The conservancy is distributing a survey to determine community support and hopes to have a “blue ribbon panel” in place to come up with a plan for the zoo’s future.

Depending on the results of the survey, the conservancy plans to talk to Jefferson County and city officials about contributing more funding to the zoo.

The conservancy took over the zoo from the city in 1991.