Local News

No bears, but possibly yoga, splash pads at refurbished Franklin Park bear dens

After a Boston Parks Commission vote, the Franklin Park Zoo bear dens are now back in the hands of the Boston Parks Department, which has plans to restore the area.

A buried slab of stone is seen in Franklin Park. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff

October 30, 2024

2 minutes to read

The old Franklin Park Zoo bear dens are getting an upgrade. And no, bears (probably) won’t be involved.

The Boston Parks Commission voted unanimously on Monday to return the dens to the Boston Parks Department after years of management by Zoo New England, Mayor Michelle Wu’s office said in a statement.

Wu called Franklin Park the “crown jewel of green space in Boston,” and reiterated her commitment to preserving the area.

“The transfer of the Bear Dens to the City is an opportunity to invest in a corner of the park with great potential,” Wu said. “We look forward to working with community to further carry out the Franklin Park Action Plan at the Bear Dens and throughout this historic park.”

What are the Franklin Park bear dens?

A big piece of Franklin Park’s history, the old bear dens used to house black bears, grizzly bears, and polar bears as part of the Zoo’s older exhibits.

The city said the dens were originally built over 100 years ago, between 1911 and 1912. While the dens have been defunct since 1970 and the bears moved to the modern Franklin Park Zoo nearby, the statement said the dens “remain a unique architectural feature of the park.”

“The site has the potential to be a beautiful landscape feature honoring an important part of the park’s history, dating to 1912 – as identified in the bas relief of two bears encircling the city seal,” Franklin Park Coalition Board President Rickie Thompson said.

What’s next for the rehabilitated Franklin Park bear dens

The Franklin Park Action Plan, released by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department in 2022, outlines a plan to restore the area as a multi-use property.

Interim Parks Commissioner Liza Meyer said the bear dens are a key part of the park and she is “thrilled” to have them back in the care of the city.

“This transfer opens exciting possibilities to restore the space and reimagine it in ways that reflect both the park’s legacy and the needs of the community today,” Meyer said. “We look forward to engaging with residents as we develop plans to transform the Bear Dens into a welcoming and accessible destination for all.”

The action plan outlines safety and infrastructure improvements, with an emphasis on making the bear dens capable of having “flexible use.”

Among the proposals are splash pads inspired by the historic bear pools. The plan said the pads could be an event space when turned off.

Other upgrades, according to the plan, would include increased wooded areas to provide a tree canopy and new lighting furnishes for nighttime events.

To highlight the multi-use potential of the refurbished area, the plan compared the bear dens to the Schoolmaster Hill Shelter, which regularly provides events like outdoor yoga.

“Stabilizing this important park feature presents a prime opportunity for imaginative new uses that respect the historic fabric, while integrating elements of fun and play, with flexibility for gathering and smaller programs to serve the Roxbury side of the park,” the plan said.