Skip main navigation

Sunday, October 11, Franklin Park Zoo: Due to an external event, a portion of Circuit Drive will be closed until approximately 2:30 p.m. Guests may enter and exit the Zoo via the Zebra Entrance on Blue Hill Avenue. Parking lots near this entrance will be available while a portion of Circuit Drive is closed. The parking lot on Pierpont Road near the Zoo’s Giraffe Entrance will reopen after approximately 2:30 p.m. All roadways will be available for our evening Boston Lights event. 

 

x
Close menu

Rain Gardens

...

We’ve partnered with the City of Boston’s Green Infrastructure Unit to design and build rain gardens throughout our Zoos.

Rain gardens are a natural solution for managing rainwater runoff from roofs, roads and other hard surfaces. Instead of allowing water to flow into storm drains—where it can contribute to flooding and pollution—these gardens absorb it into the ground. Filled with native plants, rain gardens help filter pollutants, reduce erosion and provide valuable habitat for birds, butterflies and other wildlife. At the same time, they offer the opportunity to educate our guests about the benefits of green infrastructure.

As stewards of over 100 acres across two watersheds, Zoo New England is committed to using best management practices (BMPs) for stormwater management. Since 2024, we’ve partnered with the City of Boston’s Green Infrastructure Unit to design and install rain gardens and other forms of green infrastructure. At Franklin Park Zoo, you can find them at the entrance to the Tropical Forest, the camel habitat, and near Aussie Aviary. At Stone Zoo, examples of BMPs can be seen at Caribbean Coast and the whooping crane habitat.