Old Stone Bridge and Spring Mist on Scarboro Pond in Franklin Park, Boston
Photograph: Shutterstock

Franklin Park

  • Attractions | Parks and gardens
  • Roxbury
Jacqueline Cain
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Time Out says

Spanning 527 acres connecting Roxbury, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan and Roslindale, Franklin Park is a country escape in the heart of the city. Designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, the jewel of the Emerald Necklace has miles of pedestrian paths, ponds and recreation facilities and is also home to Franklin Park Zoo and the second-oldest public 18-hole course in the U.S. Look for relics of the past, like the abandoned bear cages left at the original site of the zoo and the bridge at Scarboro Pond.

Details

Address
1 Franklin Park Rd.
Boston
02121

What’s on

Puerto Rican Festival of Massachusetts

Boston’s Puerto Rican Festival transforms Franklin Park into a kaleidoscope of color, music, and movement, anchored by a parade that pulses through the city with infectious energy. The air fills with the rhythms of salsa and bomba, while the scent of lechón and pastelillos drifts from food stalls run by local families. Artisan vendors line the walkways, their tables crowded with handwoven crafts and vibrant prints that nod to the island’s heritage. Community groups take the stage, weaving together dance, poetry, and storytelling that speak to both tradition and resilience. The festival’s scale is unmistakable, drawing tens of thousands who gather not just to watch, but to participate in a living tapestry of Puerto Rican identity. It’s a weekend where Boston’s cityscape feels unmistakably Caribbean, if only for a few days.
  • Festivals
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