For Families

Franklin Park was designed for families!  Olmsted planned walking lanes for families to stroll and enjoy nature.  Whether your family has little kids or elderly relatives, there's something for everyone in the park.

girl%20holding%20sled.jpgSledding 
When there's snow, the golf course has great hills for sledding. One of the best is directly behind the golf clubhouse. Walk straight back until you get to the drop - you won't see it until you're there. It's a steep slope with a long, flat run at the bottom - usually sleds just keep on going across the landscape.

playground.jpgPlaygrounds
There are three playgrounds in the park.  The two larger tot lots have benches for parents to sit on while children play.  The Playground on Walnut Avenue not far from White Stadium has a great sprinkler for kids to run through on hot summer days. For more information, see Playgrounds.

Sports for Kids
Check out the Sports page to learn about Little League and summer camp for kids. Drop-in Youth Sports on summer evenings draws families and kids of all ages (2-20!) Come play basketball, flag football, double dutch, baseball and more. Hot dogs and hamburgers for everyone. The kickball games attract all ages and dodgeball has speedy 8 year olds flying out of range from the teenagers' aim.

Little%20Joe.jpgFranklin Park Zoo
Go to the Zoo's website or call 617-541-LION (5466) for visitor information; winter and summer hours vary slightly. If the admission price is too steep for your family and you live in Boston, head to your neighborhood library and check out a Zoo pass. On cold winter days, the Zoo's Tropical Rain Forest building is the warmest place in Boston. Young children can spend hours watching the gorillas' antics and a large variety of other animals

Picnics/Family Reunions
There are several areas that have picnic tables. The Resting Place or Shattuck Picnic Grove is filled with families every weekend during the warmer seasons. Other clusters of picnic tables for large groups can be found along American Legion Highway and by the Playstead near the rear entrance to the Zoo.  Franklin Park is the only park in the city where it is legal to barbeque - look for the red cans to throw away hot coals.  To learn more about the best spots for a picnic, and how to get a permit to hold a large family reunion or group picnic, see our Picnic page.

Nature
Many of the nature walks and tours FPC leads are suitable for children--check our Calendar of Events to see if there are upcoming events.  And you can take your own tour of the park, exploring the Bear Dens, The Wilderness, the 99 Steps (have your kids count them!) and Scarboro Hill.  Check out the Nature page to learn more.

dancers%20red.jpgSummer Performances
From Irish dancing to African drummers, the Elma Lewis Playhouse in the Park brings cultural events to families.  Grab your kids, a blanket to sit on, and some snacks, and enjoy Tuesday morning and evening shows.

 

Summer Youth Crew
Do you have a teenager who might be interested in parks, woodlands--or having a summer job?  FPC's Summer Youth Conservation Crew learns about park management and community advocacy while getting paid to clear invasive plants, rake leaves, and clean up the park so it is an asset to the community.