The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo began as the Sutherland Forest Nursery Station and operated from 1913 to 1966. Over the span of 50 years the nursery shipped 147 million trees across the northern part of the Prairie Provinces! When the nursery station shut down in 1966, the City of Saskatoon reopened part of it as the Forestry Farm Park. The zoo was added in 1972, and in 1990 it was designated a National Historic Site. The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo is amazing and has something for everyone in your family!
If you visit the Park on a summer weekend, you’re likely to see a cricket game or two being played on one of the fields. There are several large green spaces that are perfect for big gatherings, and picnic tables with bbq pits abound throughout the park. So whether you visit with just your family or all your friends, make sure you bring a picnic! You’ll also notice the Fishing Pond where your little angler can catch their very own rainbow trout. A Saskatchewan fishing license isn’t required, though you’ll have to buy a daily fishing permit for $2.
One of my family’s favorite features is the McDonald’s Playground. It’s a nature themed accessible playground designed to give all kids the chance to play their hearts out while at the Park. As a parent, I love the fact that it’s enjoyable for both big kids and little ones. My seven year old has just as much fun as my two year old, and I’m not constantly afraid of the little one getting hurt on equipment that is too advanced for her.
A couple of years ago we discovered two beautiful gardens in the Park. I’m not sure how we had never noticed them before! The Heritage Rose Garden and Robin Smith Meditation Garden are both fantastic spaces to enjoy and maybe even practice your photography skills, whether your subject is your favorite little people or the beautiful flowers.
When most people think of visiting the Forestry Farm Park they think only of the summer, but there is so much still happening in the winter! There is admission for both the Park and Zoo from April 1 through October 31, but it’s free for the rest of the year. A trip to the zoo on a mild winter day can be tons of fun, and it’s a great place to get some fresh air when you’ve been cooped up inside. Be sure to mark the Enchanted Forest Holiday Light Tour on your calendar too! Grab hot chocolate and cookies to go and take a sparkling drive through the beautiful lights, or visit on the first and last days of the Light Tour to instead take a walk through the light displays. Bundle up and bring a sled for the little ones. I promise you won’t regret it!
Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo Contact Info:
Address: 1903 Forestry Farm Park Drive (off Attridge Drive)
Phone: 306-975-3382
Website: www.saskatoon.ca
Written by Laura Hutchinson
Raised on the family farm before moving to Saskatoon as a teenager, Laura has a deep love for the prairies. Now a homeschooling mom of two and chaser of one toddler, she enjoys taking every possible opportunity to introduce her children to all the things that make our city and province so great. When she’s not collecting clam shells and crayfish claws with the kids, Laura enjoys dates with her handsome hubby, photography, and dipping her toes into the world of freelance writing.
