Riverview Park & Zoo, Public zoo in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
Riverview Park & Zoo is a public zoo in Peterborough, Ontario, set along the banks of the Otonabee River. The grounds hold animal enclosures alongside open green spaces and walking paths that run close to the river's edge.
The zoo was founded in the 1930s by a local resident who started with a small private collection of animals that he later opened to the public. The city of Peterborough eventually took over management and gradually grew the site into what it is today.
Riverview Park & Zoo is run by the city of Peterborough and is used mainly by local families rather than tourists. On weekends, you can see children watching the animals up close, and the relaxed pace gives the place a neighborhood feel rather than a commercial one.
The park is open year-round and its flat, paved paths make it easy to get around for visitors with strollers or wheelchairs. Plan for at least a couple of hours if you want to walk through all sections without rushing.
Riverview Park & Zoo charges no admission fee, which makes it one of the very few public zoos in Canada that is completely free to enter. Many visitors only discover this when they arrive, expecting to pay at the gate.
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