- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Franklin Park Zoo
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: Mattapan
1 Franklin Park Rd
Boston, MA 02121
(617) 541-5466
1 Franklin Park Rd
Boston, MA 02121
(617) 541-5466
- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
49 reviews for Franklin Park Zoo
FPZ is by far the best zoo in the city of Boston and dare I say the entire metro Boston area (although, it will be inevitably the only zoo once Stone Zoo is legally forbidden from calling itself a 'zoo').
Highlights included: zebras, a lion whose roar echoes halfway to JP, a giraffe family, a condor and flamingos, who were embroiled in some serious old school Jerry Springer style fighting. I'm talking about full on in-your-face, neck waving squawking, stomping and pecking.
My advice for a good FPZ adventure:
(1) Going to Dorchester isn't a big deal. If you really want to congratulate yourself for doing something gutsy and dangerous, stick your hand in the tiger habitat.
(2) Check your local library for passes. You may be able to get in for free.
(3) Go on a warm day if you want to see the giraffes.
(4) If you want the San Diego Zoo, get on a plane and go to San Diego.
(5) Don't try to take pictures of the movie set. TMZ isn't interested and the last person who tried fell into a lion's pit. He didn't get eaten or anything, but I bet the lion is full of regrets about that... don't tempt him again.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
I really wanted to like this zoo.... I just couldn't, the staff seemed friendly it's just that the zoo seemed sad.
Enclosures and property didn't feel well taken care of... and the animals just didn't seem happy... We've been to many zoos on the West Coast and Midwest and the experience has been better in all of them. I was happy to see that a movie is filming there (Kevin James' Zookeeper from an internet search) which means this zoo is hopefully getting some much needed funds.
I simply wish that they could have scaled down the property, having a smaller zoo with fewer exhibits that is well mantained with happier animals would have had me and our two year old coming back for more.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
MEZZA MEZZA
Took the family on a chilly October Saturday: an urban expedition from the boonies. Parked 50 feet from the front entrance, paid the sicko admission price and started to dig the animals. No school field trips, no phalanxes of runny nosed wee ones knocking you off paths or barging in front of you as you are bonding w/ an animal. I spent a good 10 minutes hanging w/ a baboon, separated by glass, yes, but still enjoying the quiet of each others company. Their inquisitive eyes are amazing.
In contrast to some other reviewers I thought the signage was fine. My kids were concerned about the ave. life expectancy of a given animal in the wild vs. in nature as well as by the massive reduction in habitats and ranges available to many species, due to human population, habitat destruction etc. Especially poignant were the signs showing the extinction of a number of tiger species and the massive reduction in home range of those surviving in the wild.
Would have liked to have seen more animals. The gorillas are everyones fave obviously, but as has been mentioned here previously, where are the polar bears, penguins, hippos, rhinos, gators, crocs? Got the impression of a zoo hanging on by a thread, reliant upon State aid which may or may not be there through the balance of the current fiscal year..
boycott the zoo.
People thought this was:
- Funny (1)
In comparison to other zoos I've ever been to, this place really isn't good. However, I don't think you can expect a ton from a place in the center of Boston where's there's not a huge tourist draw and the weather BLOWS 90% of the year.
They have a ton of exotic animals- camels, zebras, lions, giraffes, etc. as well as some not-so-exotic animals, like horses, goats, and ducks. The habitats were kind of pathetic and it made me feel sad for them. They had random peacocks everywhere which were being chased and tormented by all the field trips. Annoying! I may or may not have reprimanded a child or ten.
They only have one gift shop, which is really terrible, and one food option, which is also pretty terrible.
If you want to go to a zoo, go to the Stone Zoo. While their selection of animals may not be as extensive, the enviorement is better.
Free parking, $13 adult admission, no student rate for college/high school.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (2)
It really is a 2.5 star place.
My friend and I went here to see the animalas before there is a true risk about the zoo getting shut down from budget cuts. Well this place needs out money. It is a run down zoo that is supposed to be the gem of New England. It is hard to complete against zoos like the bronx, which is only 4 hours away but this is not even close. This is the minor leagues.
While it was a lot of fun to see several giraffes, a roaring lion, a lot of zebras, 2 hornbills, and more. the biggest things lacking was the educational component and the signs that went with the animals and for wayfinding. A zoo is an fun place that educates you about the animals there. Sure it is great to have a jungle graphic on part of the sign but it seems more important to have content about the animals. Latin name? Diet? Do they live in groups? Social Skills? do they have predators? While some of the signs were helpful it was just a general feeling of missing something while being there.
It was easy to get to with public transportation- take the orange line to forrest hills and then take a a short ride on the 16 bus.
I notice most of the people giving FPZ bad reviews are people that aren't from around here. Well guys, this is our bigger zoo. It's in Dorchester, do you really expect so much from it?
I love it here and my boyfriend and I go all the time. The petting zoo is fun and the animals are friendly. The gorillas scare the crap out of me but that's to be expected since our buddy Little Joe likes to assault small children. Although the female gorillas do look emo.
The lion is alone because his brother died not too long ago. You can't just go out and place any other lion with him because what if they don't accept each other? Then you've got problems. Also, to the people complaining about the space he gets: There's a smaller zoo in attleboro that has 3 lions in a cage the size of someone's (small) back yard. This lion's enclosure is many times the size of that.
They do a good amount of conservation work and while it's not as extensive as the aquarium's (and neither is their knowledge) it's still a great place for those of us who can't afford to go anywhere else.
I guess it's easy to say that my wife and I are spoiled when it comes to zoos. We're from So Cal and we're blessed to have the LA and SD Zoo in our backyard. We came to Franklin Park expecting the same, thinking, it's Boston (a world class city, not). Anyway, for what it's worth, it was a pretty good experience. It all depends on what you make of it.
My wife and I were the first ones at the gate at 10:00 am. It was quite empty being that it was a weekday and cold. More people started to filter in later in the afternoon. I really enjoyed the tigers (who were rescued from a backyard breeder in the states I believe). The tropical rain forest was a great habitat for the animals.
This zoo has potential and it was nevertheless a nice quiet stroll for us. I'm glad there weren't a ton of annoying school kids present yelling and sqawking at the animals. We spent almost 2 hours here. For $12 a person, you could do much worse.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
I visited the Franklin Park Zoo today and was pleasantly suprised. It was very easy to get too from North of Boston going 93 South...very easy. The zoo itself was clean, easy to walk aorund, and had a myriad of exhibits. For a smaller city zoo, a visitor can find lions, tigers, leopard, anaconda, giraffes, zebras, kangaroos, apes, mandrills, wild bird, tapir, vultures, hippo, porcupine, prairie dogs, wild dogs, etc. etc. My family (2 adults, 2 kids aged 6 and 7) had a great time today. We were definitely pleasantly suprised. We will definitely visit the zoo again. The only con is the bathrooms--some are rather small and could use updating--however, they were (relatively) clean. The zoo itself was very clean. Overall a great day at the zoo!!!!!! Oh, the restaurant was okay--a bit pricey but that was expected--they do have some $4.99 kids' meals.
I will be going back to the zoo!...may even become a member!!
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
A sad little zoo with sad little animals.
My boyfriend and I are big fans of zoos in general - we've been to quite a few, and we're always up for a trip to a different zoo or a trip back to zoos that we like. We just relocated to the Boston area and were looking forward to exploring the local zoo...
The Franklin Park Zoo was a disappointment. The animal enclosures were, for the most part, large fields encircled by a chain-link fence. The newer part of the zoo, a tropical forest exhibit, had a nice look to it, but it smelled of mildew and urine.
The saddest exhibit was that of the tree kangaroo, which consisted of two fake trees in two cells with white walls (with a couple bamboo stalks painted on) and sawdust bedding. Perhaps the animals would look happier in the summer time, but the conditions we observed seemed more to make the humans (and their children) happy, rather than the animals.
This zoo seems to be stuck in a time when zoos were of the animal-in-a-cage variety. So many zoos have progressed to be leaders in animal conservation, education, and habitat reproduction, a step that the Franklin Park Zoo still needs to make.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
I want to start by saying that we had a nice time at Franklin Park Zoo yesterday and by assuring you that it is a great place to spend a Saturday afternoon. But, you may want to lower your expectations. Compared to other major cities' zoos, you can expect some curious deficiencies and disappointments.
The first thing you'll notice are the budget enclosures. Sometimes it looked like an eccentric Bostonian collected exotic animals and threw up some rusting garden fences around them in his backyard, and some of the fences looked like they shouldn't be used to hold back anything more dangerous than a tomato plant in someone's garden. Signage was cheap-looking or non-existent (what is with Boston and poor signage?). The "habitats" themselves were pretty uninspiring on the whole, overrun with weeds and not modernized. Honestly, the zoo most resembled a rural town zoo I once visited in Maryland rather than other major city zoos I have seen.
The biggest surprise/disappointment was that there were no elephants(!?), no polar bears, no seals, no rhinos, no penguins, no tortoises, and only two tigers and one very lonely-looking lion who started roaring, presumably in outrage over his situation. Get him some friends!!
My family had a membership to the Philadelphia Zoo when I was growing up, and my aunt took me to the Cincinnati Zoo, both of which put Franklin Park Zoo to shame, frankly (no pun intended). I especially missed Philly favorites like the polar bears with the underwater viewing area and the mania that is feeding time in the Big Cats House. Hear that, Franklin Park Zoo? That's Big Cats, plural.
That said, I don't want to imply that we left Franklin Park feeling like we wasted our money. On the contrary, we had a fun day, even though the zoo was far from fancy or comprehensive. It wasn't very crowded when we went so we didn't have to fight crowds to see the animals and they did have free parking (and tons of empty parking spots). Maybe this is part of the problem. Why not charge for parking as other zoos do and use the money to expand the collection of animals, renovate the exhibits, and support breeding programs for endangered animals? I often got the feeling that they didn't know how to market themselves. Where was all of the Franklin Park Zoo branded merchandise in the store?
Of the exhibits, I loved the giraffes, lions, and zebras, but the gorillas made the day for me. The zookeeper was training one of them while we were there, which I had never seen before. But again, I have to say that the gorilla habitat at the Philly Zoo was much, much nicer, larger, and more naturalistic.
Would I go back to Franklin Park Zoo? Yes. Did it make me miss other city zoos? Yes. But I feel like Franklin Park is still worth a visit. The animals they do have are fascinating to visit, and a portion of the admission price goes towards conservation. It's hard not to compare it to the zoos I grew up with, and I hope they catch up soon. I think that their heart is in the right place, but it just doesn't seem like they have the money or the vision right now to raise themselves to the level of other major city zoos. I suspect, like the rest of Boston, too often, that they are a little stuck in the past.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (2)
Good god, this is a horrific place. Whenever someone mentions it, and I say how much I despise it, I'm always told, "Well the Stone Zoo is much, much worse!" If that's true, I don't even want to think about it. Franklin Park is bad enough. It's like animal Alcatraz.
A while ago (2002), I went to FPZ, which was incredibly foolish. I was suckered in by an adorable billboard advertising baby zebras. You see, I am a big fan of the zebra, and am flat out obsessed with the babies because they're sweet, fuzzy, and their stripes are brown. Why I thought it was a good idea to go look at an animal I respect and admire in a deeply depressing, sub-par, inhumane atmosphere is beyond me. I was upset for days.
I swear, the giraffes were pretty much walking around on blacktop in this joint. Each habitat was worse than the last, and by the end of the day, I found myself hoping FPZ would ultimately be shut down. The lions' housing is particularly devastating; it's very small, and no place for such a spirited, majestic creature. As I stood, staring forlorn into the cage, a total stranger came up to me, obviously a bit disturbed by the whole thing too, pointed at the lion, and said, "That just ain't right." That could be the official slogan for this dump.
If I'd known then what I know now, I would never have patronized this place. I know an argument can be made that some zoos play an important role in conservation, but I don't think anyone in their right mind could assert that this is the function of Franklin Park. I understand that the kids probably enjoy FPZ, which is tough; but there are wonderful ways to educate children about animals that don't include teaching kids how to be passive and exploitative.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Cool (1)
I mean it's a zoo in friggin' Dorchester so you have to be realistic.
I think this place is AWESOME! It's the perfect size for younger children. They can see everything & wear themselves out in just a few hours.
Squeaky clean, cheap, exotic animals, friendly staff right in DOT! Love it!
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (2)
So if you've ever been to a real zoo, this place may shock you. However if you've ever been to the petting zoo at your local farm, you might be more prepared.
Now right off the bat I have to say I had tons of fun when we went. My boyfriend and I drove there on Memorial Day and spent the day there. Loved the free parking, decent admission, and it was full of families enjoying their holiday. Its a good size to plan a long afternoon.
The animal selection was pretty decent as well. Lions, tigers, zebras, giraffes, gorillas, many many birds, some small mammals and reptiles, also a horse, a donkey, and free roaming peacocks. Yup, free roaming peacocks.
My only issues with this place are in quality. Its not in the best part of town and honestly from other reviews I'd read we were afraid to leave our car in their parking lot. But it was a holiday so we figured it would be pretty well populated. I don't think I'd take public transportation here, though there are a couple busses that drop you off right at the entrance. Convenient! Back to quality. The habitats are mostly chicken wire. The roads aren't paved half the way around. The more intelligent animals don't look thrilled, and honestly I wasn't convinced they couldn't get out if they wanted. One of the male gorillas came up to the glass and pounded on it before running away. That was pretty scary.
Regardless though, this is a zoo and its in Dorchester. It is adequate. There is a small poorly stocked gift shop. There are animals. And it is accessible. I might go back. Or I might find a real zoo.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
WARNING: Contains spoilers to Mystic River
Sit down children, Imma gonna tell you a story. One fall morning, I followed some people who were volunteering to help clean Franklin Park Zoo. Cool. We jumped on the orange line and took a bus.. what an adventure! They set me up on park cleaning duty. I never did get to see any animals. Cleaning duty was definitely depressing. There were beer bottle caps EVERYWHERE.. not to mention.. well.. some unmentionables. After spic n spannin' that place up, my group wandered over to the old bear cages because they were wicked dirty. Then all of a sudden a park employee ran over.
Park Employee: NOOOO.
::group whips around::
Park Employee: (out of breath) DON'T clean the bear cages. Clint Eastwood is gonna find a body there later.
::group just leaves.. I'm the only one completely confused::
Fast forward to over a year later watching Mystic River...
Me: Bear cages bear cages.. there's a body in there!!
Friend: Way to suck, Trish.
======================
Not too sure I would head out this far to go or bring anyone to the zoo because judging on the park side, I can just imagine what the zoo looks like. Maybe if I knew there had been a major volunteer initiative to come around and clean more often. It must get pretty expensive to maintain a zoo in the middle of a city and they're obviously not focusing on spending money for upkeep.
People thought this was:
- Useful (5)
- Funny (10)
- Cool (8)
This hidden gem is tucked away in the suburbs of Boston and you would never know it is there. The place is pretty large and contains tons of cool animal exhibits and has an abundance of areas to explore. I was shocked at how nice this place was seeing I had been to the RI zoo and that was awesome. This one is smaller, but definetly worth it. The cost is reasonable and there is parking and it is just an all around good family activity. There are peacocks walking around freely in this zoo and there are lions, tigers, gorillas and all sorts of reptiles and even an area to get up close. I would put this on your itinerary to visit!
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
some tips for enjoying the franklin park zoo to its fullest potential
1. drive if possible, there is plenty of parking usually, unless there's another event going on at the nearby fields and it's barely worth the hassle of the bus trip
2. go during the summer or on the weekend - otherwise it will be OVERCROWDED with boat loads of field trips - it's a choice destination for BPS field trips (cheap and 'educational')
3. while most of the time a trip to the zoo means getting excited for all the COOL and STRANGE animals you are about to see - not this time. this time, instead, revel in the fact that you can stand in front of the giraffes for 2 hours if you want - unbothered, because, in all likely hood you are one of very few people here.
4. the gorilla exhibit is cool and one of the places you should spend a while - no matter where that little guy wanders to, there's a vantage point with a window you can still see him from!
5. if you have kids with you, plan to bring your own food. there's like 2 places to buy food and i'm nearly positive that NONE of them have been open on any of my 2 or 3 visits to this zoo. also make sure they get to sit in the truck at the lion exhibit because it is the sweetest thing ever and makes me wish that i was 5 again so i could climb in!
6. the petting zoo and the silo slide are easy to miss (right across from the zebras) - don't miss them. unless you have small kids. don't send them in the silo slide - they get crushed by the older kids and are basically inaccessible to you until they stop crying and decide to come down.
The Franklin Park Zoo only gets two stars because it has a farm-style petting zoo. As someone raised far away from farms, I've always liked farm animals, and they had a good selection to pet. They also conveniently had a soap-stocked handwash sink, and some Purell dispensers to wash the farm animal germs off after petting, which is great. The farm exhibit was also one of the only suitable habitats in the zoo.
The rest of the zoo was fun, but exceptionally depressing. We went for my birthday, and even though I had a good time, I left depressed. Most of the animals were in the saddest exhibits ever! The "African Savannah" exhibit had wildebeasts, gazelles, and zebras enclosed in an area that looked like a poorly maintained youth soccer field, enclosed with crappy chain-linked fencing. It was the first truly cold day of the fall (I was wearing a fleece jacket) and the animals just looked cold and miserble.
The lion/tiger enclosures were small and appeared to be dirty, while the gorilla enclosure is famous for being weak, and the gorilla is famous for escaping and attacking children of all ages. A friend-of-a-friend zoologist said that their gorilla was visibly, massively underweight and unhealthy.
A lot of the exhibits and buildings had a distinct air of neglect- they looked old, there was litter around them that really didn't make sense for a zoo, and the trees, grass, and weeds were all overgrown. The fruit bat exhibit was infested with mice- the bats all slept while tiny field mice nibbled on their fruit. Some of the other small animals with indoor exhibits, like the birds, did appear to have adequate accommodations, and were more enjoyable for it.
The all-time saddest exhibit were the flamingos, one of my favorite zoo animals. There were over a dozen of them netted into what appeared to be a large old fountain (think sprinkler with a shallow wading pool.) They had no shelter from the elements, even though Boston in the fall is a far cry from their native tropical habitat, and their pool was only full on one side with murky brown-green stagnant water.
As for people amenities, the gift shop was a dive, with tattered and worn carpet, and their snack stand didn't look so great either. The trip to the zoo was easy enough by Red Line and bus, but the trip back led us into the streets of Dorchester, where we ended up walking down the right lane of a busy street to avoid the lingering drug dealers/gang members. And the neighborhood isn't well-serviced by cabs, so we were stuck standing on this exceptionally sketchy street for a good long while until a Rastafarian cab driver picked us up and treated us to a sermon about how God put marijuana on this earth for us to enjoy.
I'm no animal rights renegade by any means, but I think this zoo should be shut down. The animals looked so miserable, it was depressing. If a shelter or a private person kept their cat/dog/hamsters in comparable conditions, they'd have their pets taken away by animal control.
There aren't many animals and the grounds are very small. It's mainly for children.
A zoo in the ghetto... who'd have thought?
I actually used to live next door to this zoo (for 4+ years), so I know what the neighborhood is like first hand, and it's not the kind of area you'd expect to find a zoo.
But there is one!
Funny enough, I didn't actually go to the zoo for the first time until last weekend -- long after moving away from that area. (I'm not counting the time I ran through it for the BAA Half Marathon.) I was there volunteering for an event to benefit Children's Hospital, and we all got to walk around the zoo after closing time. It's not a very big zoo, so the walk didn't take all that long.
The highlight was watching a ticked off lion attempt to attack a small child who was taunting it through a nice thick pane of glass... I don't think I've witnessed any interaction like that with an animal in a zoo. They're usually just sleeping. But I didn't blame the big cat one bit for being so peeved. The enclosures are very small for these animals and I didn't notice if he had a buddy -- didn't look like it.
It is nice that city kids get to have such interactions with wildlife without their parents having to spend a lot of money, and I think the zoo folks do the best they can with the space they have, but I don't think I'll ever enjoy zoos in general... I just leave feeling bad for the animals in them.
People thought this was:
- Useful (6)
- Funny (2)
The Zoo That Time Forgot.
This is the nickname that I gave the Franklin Park Zoo after my first visit a few weeks ago.
My girlfriend and I still haven't got over our Disney World visit (Nov. '07), and we were hankering for at least a moderately exciting wildlife experience, since we do like to talk about Animal Kingdom. Now, I certainly wasn't expecting a Disney experience, but for a zoo in the city of Boston, I had my hopes up.
Oh, how quickly they faded.
We went on a Saturday, and I have a feeling that if it weren't for the fact that the Massachusetts Coalition for Human Rights was sponsoring an event there that day, I think the Zoo would have been deserted.
Okay, so first impressions of the Zoo were that everything is very overgrown. The exhibits look like no one has tended to them in ages. I mean, basic landscaping would make this zoo look much better. Everything looked very tired, and as if it had seen better days. There were so many bushes and weeds and vines in the exhibitions that don't look like they belong there. It left us asking what the heck happened here?
Animals were all pretty much asleep. The lion looked like a corpse up on his rocky perch. The camels were just so sad. They looked diseased, and quite frankly, very cramped in their overgrown enclosure.
The indoor tropical exhibit was actually okay. On the plus side, we got to see a Gorilla breast-feeding her child. It was quite funny, because she would put her hand up to cover her face as people were taking photos of her. Almost like she wanted us to respect her privacy.
The condor cage was very Jurassic Park. I almost expected a pterodactyl to swoop down and attack us, however I doubt the zoo can afford a pterodactyl, much less feed it.
The oriental-inspired indoor birdhouse was ridiculously scary. There's no mesh or window separating you from the animals, so they have free reign to move around in the room. The most unsettling part was that in the spider and bug room, there were quite a few display exhibits that appeared empty. Look above you into the black ceiling and you can see the tons of cobwebs that litter the pipes and lighting. Perhaps some of the creatures have broken free? Also, this exhibit has quite a few "student-created" exhibit information cards dated September 2007. It seems that September '07 may have been the last time anyone did anything remotely new in this zoo.
We didn't see a single zookeeper. All we saw were the 16-18 year old Dorchester locals who work as staff in foodservice, admissions, and tram-driver. All of whom looked miserable and unhappy.
The animals were so depressing; we genuinely felt bad for them. I don't know if you can tell emotions on animals, but I don't think very many of them want to be there, much less in Boston. Especially those camels. Oy, they looked miserable.
I mean, if you're a kid, this zoo will suffice. The zoo isn't gigantic, and the exhibits and somewhat family-friendly areas would make for a good afternoon visit. But after you grow up a little bit, you realize that the Franklin Zoo needs serious help. This is a place that needs major TLC desperately.
I haven't been here in a hot minute, but my mom used to take me there when I was a WEE pipster...the huge freakin' bird cage thing used to freak me OUT because no one was ever in there and it was basically all jungle looking and tropical birds defecated everywhere...there was only one way in and one way out and there used to be this huge black jaguar in a flimsy cage near the back....
I was totally traumatized because I remember I watched some movie about a puma-slash-jaguar that escaped from the zoo and ate everyone so that always gave me anxiety attacks...
I love zoos...although franklin park is creepy when u have to drive by at night...it's a huge park with no lights and a creepy drive about.
the goats smelled too.
and monkeys are creepy.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (1)
Uhmm...random much?
You're in Dorchester. What would possibly drive you to open up a zoo? I'm not sure, but I guess it's ok with me. The zoo is pretty big and they have a variety of animals. I remember I went here for a school field trip once...hasn't changed much. That's not a good thing.
There are lions and tigers and zebras and butterflies and animals galore! I'm not huge on zoos, but I'd bring young family members here for a day of running around, gawking, and smelliness.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (1)
This adorable little zoo offered my kids a place their set could rule during a visit with family on the East Coast. They explored everything from fossils to farm equipment with smiles on their faces the entire time. It was a pleasant surprise to find this place. Located in what appears to be a somewhat rough looking area of Dorchester, the Franklin Park Zoo is clean, sweet and wholesome. There was ample playground equipment, places for little kids to get up close and personal with life on a farm, to observe butterflies and watch lions with fascination. It was also nice to find a zoo on the opposite end of the country from where we live that recognizes Happy Hollow members --- that's right folks, if you belong to Happy Hollow, the Franklin Park Zoo will let you in free with a flash of your membership card.
Check out the zoo online at:
http://www.franklinpar.../
The location is sketchy to say the least and it's crap to get to via public transport but honestly other then that I had a really good time at this zoo.
It's not the nicest or best kept zoo I've ever seen but all in all the animals didn't seem unhappy. The tigers had a decent bit of space and their own pool of water and some misty waterfall thing. They were just lazing around in the sun and seemed content and they looked beautiful. The lion also was just chilling and he had treated us all to a lovely roar. The zebras and giraffes also had a decent amount of space. They certainly were not in cages. In fact most animals were not in cages besides the birds and the small moneys. Everyone had an enclosure where they had a decent amount of space to move.
The gorillas are really the best part though. Absolutely engaging! I could have watched them for hours. One came right up and sat in front of me and just sat there. It's amazing how human-like they are.
But I digress...
All in all not a bad place despite it's poor location and some of the people that frequent it (ahem). For only $11 you can have a very enjoyable afternoon. I would totally brave the drive through Dorchester again and this time I will remember my camera.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
I took my kids to the zoo for the first time this weekend. Now, being new to the area, I knew that Dorchester wasn't the greatest area, but kept thinking, well, the best zoo back in the Bay Area was in Oakland and again, not in the best area, so keep an open mind!
I will say I was a little hesitant driving there and realized that if it looked really sketchy, I could just hightail it out of there!
But it wasn't so bad when I drove in, right at 10 am when they opened, and the free close parking was a bonus!!! I could see though that if the lot was full, I would probably not have gone.
Okay, so once in the zoo, immediately I wasn't that impressed, the zoo wasn't that big and didn't seem like there were a lot of animals! But then we got inside the Tropical Rainforest section and then it all changed!
My kids loved it! The gorilla exhibit was really really cool. The kids liked the snakes (the anaconda really freaked me out!) and bats. But mainly they loved that there were so many play structures that we could stop at and they could run around. My kids are 1.5 and 2.5 years old, so the attention span is short!
We rode the carousel, ate ice cream and did a lot of walking.
All in all, not bad for $17 for all three of us.
I considered becoming a member, but decided against it, it's probably something I'd take the kids to once or twice a year.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
Initially, I thought this zoo was going to be just 'eh'. I was wrong. The tiger exhibit is awesome, with a small pool for the tigers to relax in right in front of the barrier. They get so close you could literally touch them! The lion exhibit was great too, but he was sleeping the whole time we were there.
The best part, by far, is the Gorillas! They have a ton of window to look in, so you are practically guarateed to see some action. When we were there, the oldest male gorilla was right up against the window, checking everyone out. He is the one who escaped a few years ago. It was amazing!
The butterfly garden was also pretty neat. There are hundreds of butterflies, and they have a little house where you can see cocoons in all stages of development. Lots of pretty flowers, too.
With the free parking, and cheap admission price, I would say it's worth the drive.
People thought this was:
- Cool (1)
I went last winter, so not all the animals were out. I did see some though. What I saw of the animals and zoo I liked. I was surprised to see a zoo in Dorchester. I would go back again when the nice weather returns and I am able to see all of the animals. It's a nice place for kids as well.
BABY SHOWER!
A random boston globe Sidekicks captured my attention. Is that a baby gorilla? At the zoo? Right by my house that I have never been to and no one else I know has ever been to or ever heard about? And they are having a baby shower this weekend for baby gorillas, tiger cubs, giraffes, zebras, ocelots and god knows what other adorable creatures? I was so excited I emailed some friends and got a field trip a brewin!
First off the walk seemed long (and hot) and even though I had rode the 16 bus, wasn't really sure where to get off, so we took my friends car and it took a while to find a spot. The admission was a reasonable 9.50 for adults, there was a ragin kid dance party at the entrance and a cocky struttin peacock loose on the grounds. The tigers were goregous but hot in the sun and the lion was in the shade as well...maybe don't see the animals when it is 90 degrees out?
Things got better when it was gorilla time-man, they have a HUGE space and we got to see the baby nurse on the mom, it was so enchanting I didnt wanna give up my spot to the toddlers, but I relented. The tamarins and tropical birds were pretty right on as well. The butterfly hut was underwhelming but the larvae and cocoons were gruesome and beautiful to watch. The baby giraffe chillin with his family and the baby zebra were also highlights and the animals really did look content.
The food was overpriced so bring lots of liquid with you-there is like NO shade and the sun pounds down on you.
It is no comparison to DC or the Philly zoo, but what a wonderful discovery in Boston! A lovely low cost way to spend time with friends and I imagine a date!
First, to the reviewer who complained about the lack of flashy animals (elephants, polar bears, etc)--the reason Franklin Park and Stone Zoo don't have elephants is that there is maybe one public zoo in the entire country (San Diego Wild Animal Park, and all right, probably Disney's Animal Kingdom--MAYBE NZP at their closed-to-the-public research facility in Front Royal) that TRULY has adequate space and facilities for elephants. There simply isn't room to keep them in the way we now know they need to be happy and mentally healthy. When you're as small and badly underfunded as Zoo New England you have to chose which animals to house, and most of the big-ticket animals require a lot of space, special housing (penguins, seals, polar bears) which would require cuts elsewhere. The choice is between having lots of "superstar" animals inadequately housed, or having one or two flash exhibits that people go "ooh" at (the gorillas, for example) while using the smaller space for less sexy but still important (from a conservation standpoint) animals.
For a zoo that keeps losing state government support, Zoo New England does its best. No animals are standing on blacktop, none requiring enrichment fail to get it, the zoo is AZA-accredited and inspected. And please don't feel sorry for the lion. He is an older gent whose companion died of kidney disease a few years back who enjoys being able to lie in the sun or on his heated rock, tear up toys, and roar at least once a day at the zebras on the Savannah exhibit. (They're not impressed, but he thinks he's king of all he surveys.)
Eh.
I have a difficult time in general with the task of mustering up the willpower to love zoos, but this one is pretty awful. I know it's in the middle of the city and I guess they have to share funding with the Stone Zoo, but this place is incredibly depressing to me.
I spend a lot of time here, at least one day a week, because I nanny for a kid who lives about ten minutes away and has a zoo membership. This is sad because he gets so excited about going, but in the winter time nothing is open. The zoo is tiny to begin with; in the winter it's pitiful. It kills me that people will spend $11 to see, well, nothing. If it's less than 50 degrees outside and/or there's snow or ice on the ground, you can guarantee that there will be big Xes over at least half of the exhibits on the map the person at the front gate hands you. The ostriches? Not there. The bongos? Not there. The zebras? Giraffes? African dogs? Ibexes? No, no, no, no. Franklin Farm? Maybe, but most of the people who work in there are grouchy and don't seem to like small children very much. Other exhibits are preiodically open this time of year, but there are no guarantees. Your only safe bets are the indoor exhibits, and as there are only two of them (bird house and tropical jungle) it's pretty depressing. I know it's really cold outside, but this zoo is over 100 years old. Couldn't they have taken the brutality of New England winters into account as they were choosing animals to add over the years?
The last time I was there I got the stroller I was pushing stuck in the mud on the Outback Trail. I also ended up with mud all over my pants and shoes. The next week it was closed for repairs. Hopefully it'll be to fix the disgusting and terrifying quicksand swamp that people have to navigate just to see some freaking emus and sheep (Guess what? Kangaroos = NOT THERE).
Peacocks roam free at this zoo. While many Yelpers seem to think this is cool and awesome, I make it a policy not to trust zoos that allow peacocks to roam free; many zoos that used to do this don't anymore because of the screeching throngs of children who chase them and attempt to rip their beautiful tail feathers out. I've seen this happen twice at Franklin Park Zoo, and there's never a zookeeper around to tell. This troubles me and makes me wonder how much the zoo really cares about the safety of their animals.
The zoo definitely has its perks; the gorilla exhibit is very up close and personal, and the gorillas seem pretty happy. There's plenty of places for the gorillas to seek shelter if they're getting too much people-time. There are some pretty cool birds (Andean Condor! Kea! Crested Hornbill! Tawny Frogmouth!) as well. But for the most part I just end up feeling sad that whatever kid I'm with has no idea how cool zoos can be.
I was fortunate enough to grow up in a city (Memphis) with an a world-class zoo that constantly stressed conservation; hence, I grew up with a great appreciation and respect for wildlife and conservation efforts. The fact that kids in Boston have to grow up with a seriously mediocre place like Franklin Park as their local zoo is really sad to me. I'm sure it'll be a better experience in the summer, but it's still pretty pitiful.
People thought this was:
- Useful (4)
Another great Boston Location to take children. I have family and friends who bring their kids to visit all the time.
You wouldn't expect this place to be nestled into Dorchester. There are lots of things to see and do there.
A great way to spend an afternoon.
I like the zoo. There are cute animals. Some of the animals are in cages. Some of the animals are in very small cages. Some of them seem depressed. I still like the zoo. This may make me a hypocrite.
Anyways, this zoo is pretty nice but a little tricky to get to (take a train and then take a bus). They have a really nice and spacious indoor aviary where birds freely roam.
If I hadn't seen the Bronx Zoo for the first time right before I went here, this probably would have had a much higher rating, but yeah.
I had only been to the Stone Zoo before, so in that regard, this zoo is a huge step up. Much bigger and better habitats, more food options, more exotic African animals (lions, zebras, giraffes, etc.). For a local zoo, this is definitely a fun option and the quality is better than the Stone Zoo by a long shot.
Compared to the Bronx, though, it knocks this one down to three stars. It's really kind of 3 1/2 but there isn't the option. It's also in a pretty unsafe area of the state (okay, one of the least safe cities of all...but then again the bronx isn't exactly Disney World either), but you shouldn't feel uncomfortable in the area where the zoo is. It's pretty sheltered.
Great for children and parents who can't make the trip to new york and don't want too huge of a park to explore. I'm sure I will go again.
I have a love/hate relationship with zoos. On one hand I feel like it is cruel to animals. To take them out of their natural environment and put them in this confined space. On the other hand, some animals in the zoos are endangered and zoos are a way to protect and preserve them. Some are born into captivity and couldn't survive on their own etc...
So, with that conflict in mind I went to the Franklin Park Zoo. The only animals that we could not see because it was too cold were the giraffes.
I'll try to go through each exhibit that I feel that I can comment on:
The zebra and ibex: They had about 3 zebras and 3 Ibex. They seemed to have a fair amount of space. There was one ibex (I think that is what it was) that had patches of fur missing. Hopefully he/she is okay!
Ostrich:
I only saw 1 ostrich. It looked lonely.
Tigers:
They had 2 tigers. An orange one and a white one. Their space was small. Too small I feel. I felt bad for them.
Lion:
Only 1 lion!! Why??? That seems so awful to me to only have one animal there. Maybe there was another lion hiding somewhere, but I didn't see it. Like the tigers the lion was sleeping. He also had a very small space. There was a big ravine/gorge thing in his area that was so deep I am not sure if he could even get in it. Again, I felt so sad for him! He was gorgeous though.
Bongos: There were 3. A mom, a brand new baby and sister. They were all sleeping far away, but they seemed to have a fair amount of space.
Camels: Only 2 camels. Their space was so small! They too were laying down. They were huge and quite fascinating though.
Petting zoo area: They had goats, sheep, and horses. It smelled so awful in there. They all looked sad. 
Indoor area: The indoor exhibits smelled so awful. I don't know which animal was causing it, but it smelled of urine and sickness. They had many animals and birds in here. I won't list them all but they had some very interesting and cute animals. But, again, some exhibits only had 1 or 2 of an animal which I feel is sad. Especially only 1.
So, the big thing in here is...the gorillas!!
I LOVE gorillas. They fascinate me so much. They had at least 5 gorillas here including a baby, 3 adults, and a silver back. They had a large space which made me happy. They all seemed to be posing for the cameras and the silverback would get right up to the glass and stare at everybody. He seemed to be a.) protecting his clan from us crazy humans and b.) posing for us cause he knew that was what we wanted.
They are so fascinating and human like. I took so many pics of them. When I went to the Bronx Zoo I stayed at the gorilla exhibit for over an hour!
Kangaroos: They had quite a few kangaroos. One HUGE one and several smaller ones. They were cute and had some sheep mixed in with their exhibit.
Overall, I loved seeing all of these wonderful animals. But here is what the Franklin Park Zoo is lacking:
1.) I know they are not a huge zoo like the Bronx but they lacked a lot of education about the animals. Each exhibit had a little paragraph about the animal and where they came from, but I feel like it was really sparse.
2.) Yes, this is New England and not Africa, but I feel like the exhibits could have been a little more like the animals natural environments. There wasn't anything but the grass that came with the land. Not many trees, flora, fauna etc... The grass that was there was sad and sparse, because yes, this is fall in New England.
3.) Space. Most of the exhibit space was so small!! I feel awful for the animals. I wish their spaces were bigger. The black swans were swimming in a puddle basically. The little pool was barely big enough for both of them.
4.) Lack of staff. I saw maybe 1 staff person the whole time. Where were they?
5.) Why only 1 lion? 1 ostrich? 1 little monkey (can't remember what kind-but so cute!).
6.) Not the zoo's fault, so I am not blaming them, but screaming children everwhere do not make for a headache free experience. And a mom explaining why one tiger was white "Just like some people are born with brown skin, this tiger was born with white fur. However, it says here that the white tigers are born because the tigers make babies with their sister and other relatives. That is not healthy." Uh.....yeah.
Great animals, bad presentation of them.
People thought this was:
- Useful (5)
- Funny (5)
- Cool (4)
I think this zoo is great. Many people wouldn't expect a zoo to be located in this part of Dorchester, let alone Dorchester at all. However, this zoo has lots to offer. There are lots of great animals and interactive things for kids to do and learn. The animals are pretty active and we were able to see each one (except for the lions who were probably too hot and hiding). The peacocks roaming around are so friendly and even let you pet their tails feathers. The zoo is affordable, and you get a $1 off if you are a AAA member with a card (yes, that off the whole total, not per ticket...but hey...you do save some money!). I DEFINATELY recommend this zoo.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Cool (1)
Yipes. Do I ever wish we'd checked Yelp before going to this zoo. As so many other reviewers have noted, this place is depressingly neglected. It didn't help any that we went during an absolute downpour, the likes of which this Seattle-born girl has never seen before. Certainly not the zoo's fault, but by the time we left, I was ready to blame them for acts of God AND Nature.
Many exhibits were closed: the Serengeti, the Lions, the Butterflies. Everything we COULD see, with the possible exception of the ducks, seemed sad. We never made it to the gorillas, which, judging from other reviewers, may be the high point of this experience, but the amount of space these poor creatures have, and the condition those spaces are in, is a flat-out crime.
We found this zoo to be very nice, particularly given that it is right smack in the middle of Dorchester, just outside Boston. It seems spacious and has a pretty decent list of animals to view. The exhibits themselves seem to be fitting of the animals' natural environments. You are able to get quite close to the animals (with a fence or glass wall between you of course) but the animals APPEAR to be quite comfortable (can only guess). The only thing is that the signs leading you around aren't very clear and there should be more of them.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Cool (1)
i've read all of the reviews, and feel obliged to share my opinion. First, i have to admit a bit of prejudice, as i am involved with the zoo and am a big fan.
1. A few comments seemed surprised that it is in Dorchester. People--it's not like the state decided to plop down the zoo 10 years ago in a sketchy 'hood....the zoo has been there LONG before dorchester was dorchester!
2. That said, the neighborhood is NOT bad at all. I go to the zoo at least 1x/month and have never experienced anything shady or scary or uncomfortable. It is really safe, and it only is a 15 min drive from the back bay.
3. I love the girl who went to the baby shower! that is what the zoo is all about--bringing people together to learn about the animals in their natural environments. While yes, they are not living on safari, the staff at the zoo takes incredible care of these animals, and proactively works to ensure that they stay engaged through major programs of enrichment. They work with the animals on husbandry programs, so that, for example, they can now take blood from cliff, the lions, tail or give him medicine without having to knock him out (which is incredibly dangerous). That is a truly cool thing.
4. animals are not there for our viewing pleasure. It is a zoo....plan on going and spending a few hours, maybe even just at one exhibit. literally, i could watch the gorillas for HOURs and cannot wait for their new exhibit to open in February. we are so incredibly fortunate to have a resource like the FPZ in Boston and i find is so sad that more people don't appreciate the treasure that we have in our own backyard.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Cool (1)
This is not a bad zoo at all....I mean it is in the middle of Boston. I love going to the zoo, but the Franklin park isn't anything very exciting. I nanny so I have taken the kids over the summer. Its a good day trip....anything is better then sitting in the house on a nice day!
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
