EVERETT – At Forest Park’s Animal Farm petting zoo, which opens for the season at 10 a.m. today, there are 20 rabbits hopping and 15 chickens clucking.
Dan Bates / The Herald
There are 10 goats bleating, nine ducks quacking, three ponies neighing, two sheep that baa and llamas named Lulu and Lila.
No word yet on the turtledoves or the partridge in the pear tree.
The Animal Farm, a collection of barnyard animals that live in the park each summer to help educate young and old alike about farm life, is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily until Aug. 21 at Forest Park, 802 E. Mukilteo Blvd.
“It’s really a great thing for families to come and do, and it’s really nice to have it here at Forest Park, where people are picnicking or visiting the swim center,” said Ardell Brandenburg, city recreation superintendent. “You can make a day out of coming to Forest Park as a destination.”
Two of the Animal Farm’s residents, Miss X, a goat, and Spot, a sheep, will be renamed for the first boy and girl inside the gates this morning.
The collection of farm animals attracts about 40,000 visitors annually. Some of the animals are owned by the city, while others are borrowed for the summer.
The farm was created in the 1970s to replace the old city zoo. Between 1914 and 1962, Forest Park housed a mishmash of African lions, sun bears, Rhesus monkeys and even an elephant.
There’s nothing so exotic now, but still plenty of excitement, as the farm serves as a sort of summer camp for young animals.
“I think that is the funnest part – watching the animals grow up,” said Karen Emory, who oversees the farm.
There’s Chuck, the handsome brown jersey cow. There are Frasier, Niles, Martin and Eddie the goats. And of course, there’s Sugar the horse.
“Since it’s in the middle of the city of Everett, some of the people who visit – even adults – can’t tell the difference between a sheep and a goat,” said Corina Griffith, who started working at the farm as a teenager and is now going to school for animal massage. “So it’s good for education. Parents ask as many questions as kids do sometimes.”
The farm has education programs, animals to pet, rabbits to rent and pony rides for kids daily from 2 to 3 p.m.
Reporter Jennifer Warnick: 425-339-3429 or jwarnick@heraldnet.com.
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