This past weekend my wife, daughter and I met up with some friends (Analise, Derrek and Tristan) and decided to do something “family’ish” for the afternoon. I’ve been so busy with band stuff, home projects and freelance work lately, that a day out of the house sounded great. To this end, we piled into the car and drove down to the Franklin Park Zoo. I wanted to spend the day with everyone, but would probably have picked a different venue…
It’s only fair to start this post off by making it abundantly clear that I don’t like Zoos (in general). I just don’t get wandering cement walkways past overpriced trinket stands, or shuffling through cramped exhibit hallways for a chance to glimpse at some poor critter who is forced into the spotlight so Mr. Fat American can wobble by, while his kids bang on the glass – it just doesn’t seem right to me.
I realize this makes me sound like a “Tree Hugger”, and believe me I’m not. I just find it difficult to see past the obvious. Putting a wide-area roaming creature, like say a tiger or a zebra, into an acre-sized (or less) field surrounded by electrical fence – or – taking a beautiful large bird such as a Condor or Vulture and forcing it to live in a cage or with clipped wings so it can’t fly is depressing to me. These animals need to be able to run or fly freely. If you want to see or experience them, go to where they are. You have that choice… they don’t.
Now, before you get all righteous on me, I also realize that some of these animals are “rescued” from the wild. If I’m honest, I don’t really get that either. These animals have been just fine for millions of years. It’s the humans that started mucking the whole system up.
All that said, I actually had a great time. I was fairly impressed with the displays, variety of animals, and general look and feel of the Zoo. After all, it’s located in the most improbable location – Dorchester Ma, just outside of Boston. If you’ve never been to the Franklin Park Zoo, and find it hard to believe this sort of family park could exist in Dorchester, you’re not alone. I sat in the backseat on the way down, as we drove through some pretty rough neighborhoods, thinking “are you kidding?” Then from out of nowhere, the landscape dramatically changed, the Franklin Park Zoo sign appeared, and there was even a big groomed golf course across the street. It was sort of surreal, like stepping through a portal. It’s not often one can buy drugs, play 18 holes, get shot, and feed a baboon… all within a mile or so. This area was surprisingly nice.