Franklin Park is a lovely wooded park within Boston's Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, and Roxbury neighborhoods. The 527-acre park is Boston's largest park, originally developed as West Roxbury Park and implemented as the final jewel in the city's famed Emerald Necklace. The "crown jewel" of Frederick Law Olmsted's park plan, which was designated in 1980 as a Boston Landmark, is home to the Franklin Park Zoo today, which was opened in 1912 and offers 72 acres of family-friendly animal attractions. The 18-hole William J. Devine Memorial Golf Course serves as the nation's oldest public golf course, while tennis, basketball, rugby, and baseball fields and grassy areas for soccer and lacrosse provide additional recreation opportunities. Cross-country runners can enjoy 3,000-10,000 meter course areas, used for regional championships. Other attractions include the Playhouse in the Park open-air theatrical venue and Schoolmaster Hill, best known as the former home of Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Franklin Park, 1 Franklin Park Rd, Boston, MA 02121

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