Wonder how Boston’s biggest park got its name? It is Franklin Park. This 527-acre green space is a treasure. It is bordered by Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, and Dorchester. The City of Boston Parks and Recreation Department maintains it.
Franklin Park is more than just a park. It is a Boston Landmark since August 1980. It is a key part of the Emerald Necklace. Frederick Law Olmsted designed this chain of parks. Many consider Franklin Park the “crown jewel” of Olmsted’s Boston work.
Once called West Roxbury Park, it was later renamed. It honored Boston-born patriot Benjamin Franklin. Franklin wanted part of his estate to go to a worthy cause. The park blends rural beauty, a woodland preserve, and sports areas. Franklin Park offers six miles of roads. It also has fifteen miles of paths. These paths are perfect for walking and exploring.
Scenic spots abound in Franklin Park. Scarboro Pond and Ellicott Arch are popular. Large forested areas invite exploration. You can enjoy picnics here. Discover stone bridges and Roxbury Puddingstone outcroppings. Explore the old stone ruins. Visit the Long Crouch Woods, also known as “the Bear Dens.”
Franklin Park gained landmark status on August 26, 1980. It joined Boston Common and the Public Garden. The Olmsted Park System joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
Mayor Marty Walsh allocated $28 million for Franklin Park’s renovation. This included $5 million for maintenance. An action plan was posted for public review in December 2022.
The Franklin Park Zoo is a major attraction. It opened in 1912. The 72-acre zoo houses lions, tigers, and giraffes. See Amur leopards and gorillas. The Tropical Forest exhibit is very popular. It opened in September 1989. The zoo is New England’s second largest, after Southwick’s Zoo.
The Long Crouch Woods features the historic “Bear Dens”. These were built in 1912. They were intended for a small animal collection. The grounds had a grand staircase. It led to a courtyard with iron bear cages. One cage had a stone sculpture of bears. Plans to expand the Long Crouch Woods never happened. The area deteriorated. Maintenance became too costly. The exhibit closed in 1954. In 1958, the Metropolitan District Commission took over the zoo. The area was permanently separated from the zoo.
Efforts began in 1980 to turn Long Crouch Woods into a nature preserve. Plans stalled. In 2002, the Franklin Park Coalition cleaned up the trash. In 2007, they received a $36,000 grant. This was for landscaping and path restoration. Summer youth crews helped with the work.
Franklin Park has many athletic facilities. The William J. Devine Memorial Golf Course is here. It is the second oldest public course in the nation. There are also tennis courts and baseball fields. Basketball courts are available. The Boston Rugby Football Club plays here. Large areas are used for lacrosse and soccer. Cricket is played on Sunday afternoons. Franklin Park hosts cross country meets. It is home to the Massachusetts All-States Meet. The NCAA Northeast Regional Championship is held here too. The IAAF World Cross Country Championships took place here in 1992. The courses include loops around White Stadium. Runners tackle Bear Cage Hill. The wilderness loop winds through the trees. The park’s use for races is sometimes controversial. Erosion and disturbance are concerns.
Franklin Park is linked to ice hockey history. The “first game of intercollegiate ice hockey in the United States” occurred here. Brown University played Harvard University on a frozen pond. Brown won 6-0.
The “Playhouse in the Park” is an open-air performance space. Elma Lewis founded it. Duke Ellington and the Boston Pops have performed here.
Ralph Waldo Emerson lived on Schoolmaster Hill from 1823-1824. He ran a “School for Young Ladies”. The landscape inspired his poetry and essays. Schoolmaster Hill offers views of the Blue Hills.
Franklin Park is a place of history, nature, and recreation. It continues to evolve. It provides enjoyment for all.