Forest Park Zoo Review

It's a small zoo with many small animals. I think younger children love this.Very clean.

zoo is very good taken care off better then 3 year s ago i did an update on my review the animals are cery good shape good condition and happy i loveee the zoo like this keep it this way ....

It's small but nice easy for little kids. They also have a park picnic areas etc. There is a parking fee but it's $5.00 if you want to go there it's definitely worth it.

Was nice people were very friendly quite calm relax place I will defiantly come again :) down side no paper toilet in bathrooms but I always carry some with me you never know lol

We, in Western Mass, are so lucky to have this Zoo right in our back yard. The zoo is always clean and well maintained. The staff is extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and hard working. They go above and beyond to share their expertise with zoo goers and students who are lucky enough to see the Zoo On The Go program and close encounters. As someone who has worked in the animal care field for many years, it is obvious to me that the comfort, health, and welfare of all the animals is number one to all who spend their days at this zoo. This includes everyone from the administrators and social media guru, to the animal care staff, interns, volunteers, educators, maintenance, photographer, the camp kids and everyone in between. I am confident that all these lovable critters who can no longer live in the wild, have found their best forever homes. Thank you all for the care and time that you put into this wonderful zoo every single day.

This place is so peaceful and you can enjoy your join in peace..

Kids as always have a great time. Not too big but not too small.

Small for a zoo, but staff are friendly and they have some beautiful animals (leopard my favorite) but I wish their enclosures were bigger, especially for some of the birds.

Loved this place. Went early October, which would definitely be the off season. It was still a fun place to be despite the cold. I want to return in the summer. Small zoo, with a park outside for my little girl. Watch out for the Gibbon (I think) his bladder can be full, and he can aim.

Rated 3 stars because the zoo is small and many of the animals can be found at farms (such as goats and pigs).

Animals looked malnourished... cages and water were filthy. They had an alligator in a baby pool which is obviously not large enough for an alligator. They need to maintenance the zoo it doesn't look taken care of at all.. Also I was charged $5 for my 1yr old when everyone else is free under 2yrs.

While we all understand what we need to do to be safe, social distancing and wearing a mask, they still closed off so many exhibits. AND they also had kids camp in and around the animals. Leaving the parents to try and explain to our kids why that is fair. Maybe you should rethink your approach. The kids in the camp do not socially distance but they do wear masks, why can't our kids enjoy the animals too?

It was very hot the animals did not have water very very sad...they should get animal lovets to work here..the turtle was dry sad or they should close down the zoo and let the animals free iam going to report it

Great place go and feed the animals with food from the gift shop

It is Overrated and very expensive, doesn't have animals and some of the zoo workers are Extremely Stupid!

A Paradise in Springfield MA come and spend a day with your family, you can do different activities and if you like running, walking and exercising outdoors is the perfect place!

I bought tickets online thinking this was Forest Park Zoo in St Louis, MO. When I realized my mistake and called to get a refund they emailed me back the same day to say they had processed my cancellation. That's excellent customer care!

We love going to Forest Park for bright lights every year. You can visit Santa Mama there are three little kitty rides that you can go on as well as a snack area and the lights are fantastic! I've been to many other displays and this one is by far superior! The advertisements are to a minimum and they add more and more every year I absolutely love it here and the boys do too!

This zoo was much bigger than I thought. The cost is $ 10.00 for adults and $ 5.00 for kids 12 and under. Please note that they have closed off some of the entrances to Forest Park and I only saw 2 open entrances and you now have to pay $ 5.00 to get into the park as well. I did not see this listed on the Forest Park website so I dont know how recent the change is because I havent been down this way in a few years. I'm undecided as to how I feel about zoo's in general because on one hand nothing deserves to be caged but on the other you get too see animals that you otherwise may never get to see such as the kangaroos that they have here or the endangered Timber Wolves. They also have goats, chickens, turkeys, turtles,emus and many more animals.

Do NOT have a party here for your kid. Worse experience I ever had in all my years as a parent paying for a party. 1. They had one host for two parties 2. They rushed me out half an hour before my party ended cause of rain, it was raining the WHOLE party and they want you to pay in full while your party is going on 3. We barely saw the host only when she showed the kids animals and at the end. 4. They take forever to answer phone calls and emails 5. They charge you for guests you did not have 6. Why would they charge you for babies under 1 year OLD 7. Manager tells you the day of party she will issue a partial refund for party and insults you with 25.00 refund and free passes and last 8. I had asked for drinks and cups when we were doing the cake, she brings me drinks without cups...I told her I no longer wanted the drinks and she says do not worry about it, got the cups at the END of my party after everyone had already ate then Manager says the drinks was part of my refund, along with two extra guests which amounts up to 25.00 In all my years as a Manager, I would not ever treated my customers like that. I always made sure they were happy and not insult them. I decline her free passes as she thinks this is my son's first trip there. No it is not. My son has frequent that zoo YEARLY since he was a baby....I decline free passes cuz I felt insulted by her offer on a refund. Never again will I step foot in this zoo and will I recommend to all my family and friends to ever go here. This manager needs to get her act together, make sure her staff are promptly replying to all customers, make sure she has enough staff to cover the parties, and honor her end.

Very nice, though it was really hot we still were able to see a majority of the animals. (They were out and active) There were a few animals that weren't there, but 98% were It's bigger then I thought it was to be honest. $10 for adults and $5 for kids under 12. You also have to pay to get in the park $3 for mass plates $5 for out of state. I posted mostly bird pictures because I didn't want to ruin the mystery of what there is for animals! Only thing I was really disappointed with, was there are no tigers!

This place is amazing, perfect place to have a birthday. Me and my family had a great time, and the zoo was amazing, all different types of animals from turtles to camels, wolf's, and Coyote's armadillos kangaroos lemurs little tiny monkeys horses goats chicken snakes lizards, and they have a few big cats lol.
It's a beautiful park with plenty of things to do.
And just to remind people the front main entrance on. Sumner Ave is closed for construction.

I loved it so did the grandkids. The zoo is very well maintained. They even have the gift shop out doors. The price for adults is ten dollars. Kids are 5 dollars. Masks are a must.. Playground immediately after exiting the zoo. Forrest park is very big, very beautiful. Good place for a picnic. Very well maintained..

I hadn't visited the zoo for 50 years. Not many animals left, which is how it should be! The park was as beautiful as ever!

I love tgis place but the activities no hood got that pic from my friends family

Great place to spend time with the family. Love all the animals that are available to see, experience or feed.

Good variety. Healthy animals. Glad to pay the admission fee.

Great place! A little crowded for a whole school to visit, but otherwise, awesome time.

Very entertaining place. Many varieties of animals to check out. Workers are very friendly. Great for families with younger children.

Great little zoo. Easy walking thru, not too big. Animals are friendly.

Great little zoo, somewhat small but perfect for the price and the park itself is a bonus. No lions tigers or bears, but there is plenty to see and it's never packed. You do have to pay an entrance fee for the park that is separate from your zoo entrance fee.

A cute zoo even if it is a bit small. It has a really nice homey feel to it, its literally a zoo in the woods!!!

What a truly enjoyable Discovery this was. I had been taken there as a child many years ago and ever recently been going there with my family and rediscovered this totally enjoyable facility which primarily houses rescue animals that would not survive their injuries in the wild. It is clean, the animals are well cared for, the staff is knowledgeable and friendly. if you're in the Springfield area I highly recommend taking your kids to this location. You will be finished with it within 2 hours and will thoroughly enjoy the experience. I will highlight one disturbing thing though. there is a monkey in the center of the facility named Dewey who has become my arch nemesis. He is the most vulgar and disgusting monkey I've ever witnessed. Each of the last three times I have been to this location he has exhibited vulgar and profane gestures at my direction. I should say much to the enjoyment of my family.

Very large variety of animals, all of whom look healthy to my layman's eye. Zookeeper's and staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and the zoo is spacious enough you always have room to navigate or get a better angle on the critters. Just the nicest donkeys and goats I've ever met who love the 25-50 cent snacks. The enclosures aren't the most spacious or fancy, but every animal has friends, toys, climbing/hiding spots, and bigger animals do have some run-around room. Also there is one peacock who constantly escapes and he's beautiful.

It was fantastic. Huge crowd enjoying a beautiful day with our amazing animals, and of course tasting the many brews. Hats off to all who made this perfect day, perfect! Just love our Forest Park Zoo and Education Center! Happy animals and wonderful guests today.

Was awesome, seemed bigger this year and very crowded on weekends.

Beautiful park. Enormous. Well kept and much to offer for all group ages. Great to visit for special pictures like a wedding, family reunion, graduation etc

I liked the zoo and seeing all of the peacocks everywhere

Covid-19 restrictions makes for awkward uncomfortable time.

The parking was confusing we drove through a few times trying to park near our grandsons 1st Birthday party We wound up parking and walking to find the entrance to the zoo which could have been better maintained. The birthday party was celebrated under a nice large tent. We were lucky and the weather was great. It was fun to walk through the zoo wondering what kind of an animal we would see next we enjoyed feeding the animals. But some of the animals didn't seem to be happy. There also were some empty cages. They snack bar and gift shop.

Our first time & very impressed with their modifications for current issues. Also I loved how much the staff was willingess to answer my youngest asking endless questions.

My girl and I saw the lights the night before my birthday. It was awesome.

Visited to see night lights decoration during Xmas.. it was great experience.. but should've visited other day than Xmas