Franklin Park (Boston)

Considered a country park when it was formed in the 19th century, Franklin Park is the largest and last component of the Emerald Necklace created by Frederick Law Olmsted. Although often neglected in the past, it is considered the "crown jewel" of Olmsted's work in Greater Boston. It is bordered primarily by Forest Hills St., Walnut Ave., Seaver St., Blue Hill Ave., Walk Hill St., and the American Legion Highway. Franklin Park, previously known as West Roxbury Park, was renamed in honor of Boston-born patriot Benjamin Franklin, who documented in his will that he wished for a portion of his estate to be given to a worthy cause. The park brings together rural scenery, a woodland preserve, and areas for active recreation and sports. Franklin Park also has of roads and of pedestrian and bridle paths to explore. Much of Franklin Park is scenic and devoted to the general use and enjoyment of the public. Scarboro Pond and Ellicott Arch are popular sites within the park, as are the large forested areas. The park also has picnic areas, stone bridges, outcroppings of Roxbury Puddingstone, and old stone ruins, specifically the Long Crouch Woods of Roxbury—also known as "the Bear Dens". In March 4, 1980, the Boston Landmarks Commission recommended that Franklin Park be designated a landmark. The park received that designation on August 26, 1980, joining two other sections of the Emerald Necklace (Boston Common and Boston Public Garden). It was included as part of the Olmsted Park System when that landscape complex was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 8, 1971. From the proceeds of the sale of the Winthrop Square Garage for redevelopment as Winthrop Center, the administration of Mayor Marty Walsh allocated $28 million for a renovation of Franklin Park, including $5 million for a maintenance endowment. An action plan for the renovation was posted for public comment in December 2022. ==Zoo==

Franklin Park Zoo is located within the park grounds. Founded in 1912, the zoo has such exotic animals as lions, pygmy hippos, Masai giraffes, budgerigars, and western lowland gorillas. One of its most popular exhibit attractions, the Tropical Forest (formerly called the African Tropical Forest), opened in September 1989. The zoo is the second largest zoo in New England, after the Southwick's Zoo in Mendon. ==Long Crouch Woods==

The Long Crouch Woods, the location of the historic "Bear Dens", is also located within the park. Once the focus of the zoo, the Bear Dens were designed and built in 1912, and were planned to have a small collection of domestic animals. The original grounds featured a grand staircase leading to a large courtyard, framed by several large iron bear cages. One of these cages featured a detailed stone sculpture of bears and the crest of the City of Boston. ==Athletic areas==

Franklin Park contains the eighteen-hole William J. Devine Memorial Golf Course (the second oldest public course in the nation) as well as tennis courts, baseball fields, and several basketball courts. It also contains White Stadium, which is planned to be renovated into a 11,000-seat soccer venue for Boston Legacy FC of the National Women's Soccer League. There are large open areas used for lacrosse and soccer. One area of the park is used for cricket on Sunday afternoons. The park is a famed cross country course, hosting a number of high school and collegiate meets throughout the year. Franklin Park is home to the Massachusetts All-States Meet as well as the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship every other year (alternating with Van Cortlandt Park in New York City). The park includes courses for 3000 meters, 5000 meters, 6000 meters, 8000 meters and 10000 meters. Franklin Park also won the honor of hosting the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in 1992, as a special 12.5 kilometer course was used for competition. Each course includes variants of 3 major loops, the stadium loop, the Bear Cage hill loop, and the wilderness loop. The stadium loop simply goes around the back of White Stadium, while the Bear Cage loop climbs the fairly significant Bear Cage Hill. The wilderness loop crosses into the wooded area of the park and follows a twisting path through the trees. There are many concerns regarding continued use of the park as a racing facility, including erosion and disturbances of residents who wish to use the park for walks or peaceful bike rides. As races are hosted almost every Saturday (and a good number of Sundays) this issue will continue to be controversial. Students from Brown University took the train to Boston, where they commandeered a patch of a frozen pond in Franklin Park, asked pleasure skaters to move aside, and played students from Harvard University. The details and outcome of the game were recorded in the following day's Boston Herald: Brown 6, Harvard 0. ==Playhouse==

Franklin Park has an open-air public performance founded by Elma Lewis, a space known as the "Playhouse in the Park". This area has featured such renowned musicians as Duke Ellington, the Billy Taylor Trio and the Boston Pops. ==Schoolmaster Hill==

From 1823–1824, before the park was created, Ralph Waldo Emerson lived in a small cabin atop what is now named "Schoolmaster Hill", running a "School for Young Ladies" with his mother and brother. Emerson drew upon the landscape for inspiration for nature poetry and essays. Besides a plaque devoted to Emerson's memory, Schoolmaster Hill offers views of the Blue Hills. ==References==