Springfield, MA’s Zoo in Forest Park is a modest affair – you can see nearly half of it from a hill across the road. But that doesn’t mean the zoo isn’t worth visiting. In fact, the zoo’s size might make it the perfect choice for families with small children.
Walking leisurely and stopping to appreciate every exhibit, visitors can tour Forest Park Zoo in less than two hours. For those who prefer to zoom from animal to animal, it is possible to see every exhibit at the zoo in about half an hour.
Forest Park
The zoo is located in the heart of Springfield, MA’s magnificent 735-acre Forest Park. Visitors must pay a modest fee for driving in their vehicles (separate from the zoo admission), but it is well worth the price. Besides the zoo, Forest Park features a rose garden, ample water gardens, a sports complex, pool, ice rink, walking trails and more… not to mention plenty of parking spots.
Zoo Exhibits
Forest Park Zoo has dozens of exhibits featuring over two hundred animals. These include:
- A barn and barnyard with goats, pigs, ponies, calves, donkeys, sheep, and even a zebu
- An “Outback” exhibit with red and grey kangaroos, emus, and wallabies.
- Primates like capuchin monkeys and ring-tailed and ruffed-necked lemurs.
- Raptures like owls, golden eagles, and vultures.
- A variety of other birds including turkeys, roosters, peacocks, pheasant, swan, and a colorful macaw.
- Reptiles like iguanas, turtles and tortoises, snakes, and an alligator
- Ferrets, chinchillas, hedgehogs, capybaras, raccoons
- Zebra, camel, mutjac deer, alpaca
- Binturong (also known as a bear cat), bobcat, red fox, black bear, coyote, and leopard.
More about the zoo
- The enclosures are small and simply designed, but seem clean and well-kept. Sadly, the obstructive fencing makes it hard to photograph a majority of the zoo animals (except in the barnyard).
- Zoo visitors can buy special feed to give to some of the animals (like those in the barn area), though signs everywhere caution “I may bite” or on occasion, the more straight-forward “I bite.”
- The zoo’s paths are stroller-friendly. However, there are no changing tables.
- Hour-long zoo tours are available for groups of up to 20 people. Reservations must be made in advanced.
- An activity tent inside the zoo is available for rent. The zoo offers a birthday party package.
Eating
A refreshment stand within easy walking distance of the zoo entrance offers standard quickie fare at reasonable prices. Patrons can buy hamburgers, hot dogs, sodas, chips, fries, peanuts, pop corn, and the like. For vegetarians, the most substantial option is a grilled cheese sandwich. A gift shop inside the zoo sells candy bars and soda (along with the requisite zoo merchandise). Visitors would do well to pack their own lunch. Picnic tables and benches are scattered throughout Forest Park. Whatever you decide to do, be sure to mind the bees!
Extras
- A playground complex right outside the zoo entrance proves irresistible to most young children – and may offer a welcome respite for caregivers looking for a way to rest while the kids burn off all that energy.
- Visitors can pay for a ride on a propane-driven road train that makes a short circle around the outside of the zoo and other parts of Forest Park. The “train depot” is right outside the zoo entrance.
Hours
- April 1 - Oct 15 Daily, Weather Permitting - 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM Oct 15 - Nov 30 Weekends Only - 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM
- The zoo is closed from December to March.
