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Franklin Park

Discover. Play. History.
Things to do
Our favorite spots
Happening soon
Park partners

Treasures abound throughout Olmsted’s “country park.” At 527 acres, Franklin Park is the largest green space in the Emerald Necklace and the City of Boston.

Named for Benjamin Franklin, this intentionally natural and immersive park brings together rural scenery, spectacular rock outcroppings, a woodland preserve, expansive pastoral vistas, winding paths, and areas for active recreation and sports.

  • Franklin Park General Plan Map 1885

    Olmsted's Plan for Franklin Park, 1885

    Credits:

    Courtesy of Digital Commonwealth

  • Four men playing dominos in the park

    Franklin Park is a longtime gathering spot for games, barbecues, and other get-togethers

    Credits:

    Will Serber

  • Black and white photo of men in top hats looking at bears in a cage in a park

    Visitors observe the Franklin Park Bear Cages, 1914

    Credits:

    Courtesy of the Library of Congress

  • Kids flying kites in a park

    Flying kites near the Shattuck Picnic Grove

    Credits:

    Will Serber

  • Scarboro Pond in autumn

    Credits:

    Evan Bradley

  • Franklin Park General Plan Map 1885

    Olmsted's Plan for Franklin Park, 1885

    Credits:

    Courtesy of Digital Commonwealth

  • Four men playing dominos in the park

    Franklin Park is a longtime gathering spot for games, barbecues, and other get-togethers

    Credits:

    Will Serber

  • Black and white photo of men in top hats looking at bears in a cage in a park

    Visitors observe the Franklin Park Bear Cages, 1914

    Credits:

    Courtesy of the Library of Congress

  • Kids flying kites in a park

    Flying kites near the Shattuck Picnic Grove

    Credits:

    Will Serber

  • Scarboro Pond in autumn

    Credits:

    Evan Bradley

History

Franklin Park officially opened in 1885 and became the crown jewel of the Emerald Necklace. Its centerpieces, the Wilderness and Scarboro Pond, were designed to feel almost untouched—an antidote to industrial urban life. Over time, Franklin Park has become a hub for recreation and culture, adding features like a golf course, athletic fields, and the Franklin Park Zoo. While parts of Olmsted’s original vision were altered through the 20th century, today's restorations are focused on reclaiming the park’s ecological health and historic landscape character.

Explore park map

Parks Permitting

  • Franklin Park General Plan Map 1885

    Olmsted's Plan for Franklin Park, 1885

    Credits:

    Courtesy of Digital Commonwealth

  • Four men playing dominos in the park

    Franklin Park is a longtime gathering spot for games, barbecues, and other get-togethers

    Credits:

    Will Serber

  • Black and white photo of men in top hats looking at bears in a cage in a park

    Visitors observe the Franklin Park Bear Cages, 1914

    Credits:

    Courtesy of the Library of Congress

  • Kids flying kites in a park

    Flying kites near the Shattuck Picnic Grove

    Credits:

    Will Serber

History

Franklin Park officially opened in 1885 and became the crown jewel of the Emerald Necklace. Its centerpieces, the Wilderness and Scarboro Pond, were designed to feel almost untouched—an antidote to industrial urban life. Over time, Franklin Park has become a hub for recreation and culture, adding features like a golf course, athletic fields, and the Franklin Park Zoo. While parts of Olmsted’s original vision were altered through the 20th century, today's restorations are focused on reclaiming the park’s ecological health and historic landscape character.

Explore park map

Parks Permitting

Things to do

With six miles of roads and fifteen miles of pedestrian and bridle paths, Franklin Park is the place to discover! Step into historic ruins, spot a Great Horned Owl, bike after school, or perfect your golf swing.

Explore Map

Visit the Franklin Park Zoo.
Visit the Franklin Park Zoo.
Climb the “99 Steps” twice.
Climb the “99 Steps” twice.
Picnic and barbecue with family.
Picnic and barbecue with family.
Explore the Overlook ruins.
Explore the Overlook ruins.
Sheep mow the grass near the Scarboro Pond Bridge, 1916
Courtesy of the Boston Public Library; Photographer Leon Abdalian
The Scarboro Pond Bridge, 2025
Emerald Necklace Conservancy
Our Favorite Spots

Scarboro Pond

Scarboro Pond

Ellicott Arch

Ellicott Arch

Franklin Park Zoo

Franklin Park Zoo

Did you know?

Unlike the rest of the Emerald Necklace parks, Franklin Park was purposefully designed to have almost no water features. Designer Frederick Law Olmsted wanted a pure, heavy "depth of wood" to swallow visitors up and completely block out the sight and sound of the surrounding city. Even today, the park remains a true oasis.

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Land & water
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The world didn't start with Olmsted. For millennia before and in the centuries since Frederick Law Olmsted designed the Emerald Necklace park system for a rapidly industrializing city and metropolitan area, the lands and waters of and around Greater Boston have served as a site of exchange among communities including the Massachusett, Pawtucket, Wampanoag and Nipmuc peoples. The Emerald Necklace Conservancy acknowledges the Greater Boston region as their unceded ancestral territories. This acknowledgement is a starting point toward right relations with Indigenous neighbors and their understandings of land stewardship.

The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

Subscribe for Necklace news, community events, and to enliven the parks.

Get Necklace News

Shattuck Visitor Center

125 the Fenway
Boston, MA 02115

Year-Round

Mon-Fri 9:30am – 5pm

May-October

Sat-Sun 10am – 4pm

Learn More

Mailing address

350 Jamaicaway
Boston, MA 02130

+1 (617) 522–2700

The Emerald Necklace Conservancy is a not-for-profit organization and is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Our federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 04-3414988.

Donate

FAQ

Partner & Volunteer

Careers

Publications

Contact Us

Land & water
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The world didn't start with Olmsted. For millennia before and in the centuries since Frederick Law Olmsted designed the Emerald Necklace park system for a rapidly industrializing city and metropolitan area, the lands and waters of and around Greater Boston have served as a site of exchange among communities including the Massachusett, Pawtucket, Wampanoag and Nipmuc peoples. The Emerald Necklace Conservancy acknowledges the Greater Boston region as their unceded ancestral territories. This acknowledgement is a starting point toward right relations with Indigenous neighbors and their understandings of land stewardship.

The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

Subscribe for Necklace news, community events, and to enliven the parks.

Get Necklace News

Shattuck Visitor Center

125 the Fenway
Boston, MA 02115

Year-Round

Mon-Fri 9:30am – 5pm

May-October

Sat-Sun 10am – 4pm

Learn More

Mailing address

350 Jamaicaway
Boston, MA 02130

+1 (617) 522–2700

The Emerald Necklace Conservancy is a not-for-profit organization and is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Our federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 04-3414988.

Donate

FAQ

Partners + Volunteers

Career

Publications

Contact Us

Land & water
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The world didn't start with Olmsted. For millennia before and in the centuries since Frederick Law Olmsted designed the Emerald Necklace park system for a rapidly industrializing city and metropolitan area, the lands and waters of and around Greater Boston have served as a site of exchange among communities including the Massachusett, Pawtucket, Wampanoag and Nipmuc peoples. The Emerald Necklace Conservancy acknowledges the Greater Boston region as their unceded ancestral territories. This acknowledgement is a starting point toward right relations with Indigenous neighbors and their understandings of land stewardship.

The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The parks belong to the people. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

Subscribe for Necklace news, community events, and to enliven the parks.

Get Necklace News

Shattuck Visitor Center

125 the Fenway
Boston, MA 02115

Year-Round

Mon-Fri 9:30am – 5pm

May-October

Sat-Sun 10am – 4pm

Learn More

Mailing address

350 Jamaicaway
Boston, MA 02130

+1 (617) 522–2700

The Emerald Necklace Conservancy is a not-for-profit organization and is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Our federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 04-3414988.

Donate

FAQ

Partner + Volunteer

Careers

Publications

Contact Us