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

Boston Lights: A Lantern Experience

Boston Lights turns Franklin Park Zoo into an evening walk through illuminated displays, giving the zoo a very different purpose after dark. The appeal is seeing familiar paths and animal habitats transformed by large-scale light installations, with the route designed more for wandering than rushing from one exhibit to the next. It is an easy choice when you want an outdoor night out that feels distinct from the usual summer plans, particularly with kids or visiting friends who have already done the standard Boston sightseeing circuit. The zoo itself becomes part of the experience, even though the focus shifts away from the animals and toward the lights. Go after sunset so the displays can do the work, and give yourself enough time to take the route at an unhurried pace. It is less about checking off attractions and more about having a reason to linger in the park after dark.
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