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Springfield

Florence Bank Donates $5,000 to Forest Park Train

The bank's gift supports efforts to bring back a train that once carried visitors to the Forest Park Zoo.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Philanthropy

A small vintage-style park train on a curving track through green trees, with a brick park building softly visible behind it.
Florence Bank donated $5,000 to support efforts to restore the Forest Park train in Springfield, which was taken out of service in 2016. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Florence Bank donated $5,000 to support efforts to restore the Forest Park train in Springfield. The original train, which transported visitors to and from the Forest Park Zoo, was taken out of service in 2016.

Why it matters

The restoration would return a longtime attraction to Forest Park for Springfield residents and visitors. Fundraising by Friends of Springfield Parks is central to the effort.

Florence Bank's $5,000 gift is a single donation toward the project, with no total restoration cost given in the source material. The original train has been out of service since 2016, and the new train is projected to begin operating in 2027.

The players

Florence Bank

Florence Bank is a local financial institution that donated $5,000 to the Forest Park train effort and sponsored last year's Bright Nights at Forest Park.

Friends of Springfield Parks

Friends of Springfield Parks is the organization leading fundraising efforts to bring the Forest Park train back into service.

Dominic Sarno

Dominic Sarno is the mayor of Springfield, Massachusetts, who attended the ceremony unveiling the new train photos.

Matt Garrity

Matt Garrity is the president and CEO of Florence Bank, the institution that made the $5,000 donation.

The details

Officials unveiled photos of the new train during a ceremony at the Monkey House in Forest Park, attended by Springfield Mayor Dominic Sarno. Friends of Springfield Parks is leading fundraising efforts for the train, and Florence Bank was also a major sponsor of Bright Nights at Forest Park last year.

Timeline

  1. 2016: The original Forest Park train was taken out of service.

  2. 2025: Florence Bank sponsored Bright Nights at Forest Park.

  3. November 2, 2026: Florence Bank donation and ceremony unveiling new train photos.

  4. 2027: The new Forest Park train is expected to begin operating.

Philanthropy Context

The effort mirrors the recent revival of swan boats on Porter Lake, which likewise restored a Forest Park attraction after a period out of service. Corporate sponsorship from local banks such as Florence Bank has been a recurring source of support for Forest Park programs.

Residents and visitors who use Forest Park can look forward to the return of a train ride to and from the Forest Park Zoo once the restoration is complete. The project depends on continued community fundraising, so local donations and sponsorships will determine when it opens.

The takeaway

Local businesses and residents can support the return of the Forest Park train by backing fundraising efforts led by Friends of Springfield Parks. Community donations like Florence Bank's help close the gap between a retired attraction and its planned return.

What happens next

The new Forest Park train is expected to begin operating in 2027.

Further reading

Explore more local giving in Springfield Philanthropy coverage.

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