This park has a lot to offer, from sunken gardens, WWI cannons, mammoth sculptures, a zoo, swimming pools (both not open during Covid-19), and various playgrounds. Its spacious enough where you feel alone. A quiet escape in a bustling city. Theres also a golf course for those who wish to play. Highly recommend this park!

My husband, 3 year old son, and myself went here around 1 pm. Opens at 12. Free parking and free admission. Beautiful, clean, and Lots of flowers! They have a sprinkler water pad for kids to play with water. Also have a huge park with picnic areas. It was not too crowded on a Sunday. They had eagles, otters, peacocks, chickens, llamas, deer, owls, wolves, cougars, and a really cool reptile house with alligators, turtles, snakes, lizards, and fishes. Takes about 45 min to go through everything so it’s not like Brookfield zoo but it’s nice to make the time pass on Sunday afternoon. We will come back again!

This is a cute little Zoo. There are not too many animals. They have an adorable Otter. Beautiful Peacock. The flower garden is so pretty. The best part is that most of the park is handicap and wheelchair accessible. There is also tons of parking and lots of areas to have a picnic with a near by playground and a splash pad too!

Great place to visit, especially for younger kids. The flower bed is amazing during summer.

Enjoy the zoo by day, but dont miss the fantastic Festival of Lights - a drive through Christmas light show from the weekend after Thanksgiving until the day after Christmas. One of Illinois best shows. Come alone, bring the family, bring a bus - you will have a great time enjoying this great holiday festival

This is an excellent little park where someone has taken the time to take an flood retention overflow area and do some serious beautification by painstakingly planing beautiful, butterfly drawing, flowers and bushes and putting up a central fountain and some statues, some topiary bushes and also to display a small group of exotic animals and a handful of dinosaur bones. Regardless how simple it may seem, it is worth spending a couple of hours to truly go through this park and enjoy it for what it is and the work that someone has put into it and enjoy the beauty of it all. Check it out!

I came here to see the lights during Thanksgiving. The place was nicely arranged and had absolutely no hassle during the drive through.Family enjoyed the FM radio during the ride and enjoyed the lights.Wonderful experience

The park itself is small and doesnt have very exotic animals, mostly farm type animals and some rescued birds, but its a very nice facility. The grounds are kept very well and theres a beautiful garden area, splash pad area & playgrounds for kids, golf course and nice picnic areas. Very clean and lots of parking lots. Admission to the zoo is completely free and you can take a free tram ride around the grounds. Overall, I would describe this as a diamond in the rough.

Its such a great little treasure!The Animals all looked Happy and Healthy.There was a really nice zoo keeper that took lots of time to explain things to my kids and I.We will definitely return!

We were in town for an event and tried to find something fun to do to occupy time. Evidently, the Zoo is closed due to covid. They did not bother to post signs, update website nor social media which currently shows they are open. I did call the number and a voice recording states they are closed through Phase 4. Be advised.

The zoo has about 9 animals. Some turtles, peacocks and 2 alligators. There are also a couple of Eagles. Not much fun at all. The park is old and run down. I took my 10 month old. He loves everything. I should have let him wrote the review. Slash Pad was awesome!!!

Such a cute zoo with a surprisingly wide variety of animals & gorgeous, lush grounds. The reptile house is so fun- theyve got a crocodile & alligator, plus an adorable turtle tank & imposing boa constrictor. The cougar was impressive, and the barn owls were such showoffs! A really fun place to visit- a hidden gem!

My family had so much fun here. I just love the park being right next to the zoo. Definitely the place to go when you dont know what to do on a Sunday. Very small and personal zoo. At first I was a bit disappointed in how small it was. Not like the bigger zoos. But I was satisfied with my visit. We really enjoyed ourselves and the animals.

Very nice zoo. It is free and perfect place for an afternoon away. Had many reptiles and birds, even a puma! Definitely fun place

Great little municipal zoo! We havent been here in quite a while, but its always a quick, fun trip. Parking is free and readily accessible. Admission is free. While they certainly dont have as many animals as larger zoos like Brookfield or Lincoln Park, the ones they have are interesting and active (wolves, eagles, otters, alligators, etc.). Dont skip the indoor reptile house, which has huge snakes, alligators and turtles. While inside, dont forget to look at the ceiling where they hang shedded snake skins along the length of the building. They also have a beautiful sunken garden and a small splash pad in the front of the zoo and a large play park in the back of the zoo, which is nicely shaded. There are mastodon fossils and historic excavation information in the main field house and cannons to climb on in the back by the park. Overall, it makes for an enjoyable experience and depending on how much you want to see, and whether you pack a lunch, you can make a day of it.

So nice. I love that its animals that cant be released. Great zoo for being free.

What few animals are at this zoo were amazing. They were really awesome. But I was hoping for more animals. Thank God for the small park inside the zoo or else the trip wouldve been really short.

A very nice place to bond with family and friends but the facilities were not well-maintained.

The animals here are suffering. Terrible zoo. The city of Aurora can do better but they wont.

Free and so good for little kids. We bring my toddlers here a lot and they love it. Especially the wolves and indoor reptiles!

Nice and clean zoo in a beautiful park, tow playground that kids can play

Very interesting local zoo. Check out the giant botanical sunken garden, A lot of work goes into maintaining it’s beautiful surroundings. There is also a small water splash pad. During the summer season there is a tram that takes you on a free tour.

Great for families. Great staff. Walk around the lake,kids play at the playground. Stay longer and cookout.

Was fun to stop by on way home with daughter and do a quick visit.

Its free and has just enough animals to keep a 3 year old happy. There are a lot of hilly areas inside the zoo and there are steps to get from one area to the next. There are some dug up bones inside the building that are neat. Some Mastodon bones they found while digging up the park!

Good place for walk and kids play area. Parking is not great. Well maintained. I saw some people doing birthday party there. Super like to this place

Aurora did a fantastic job with Phillips park zoo! Definitely a whole days worth of fun and wonderful experiences!

Nice clean family park kids love it

A small zoo with some interesting habitats and creatures

There is a nice little zoo with animals that were rescued that for one reason or another cannot return to the wild and are being taken care of here. The sunken garden is quite spectacular as well. There is a huge playground for kids to get rid of that excess energy...All in all a very nice park.

Amazing visit as always! Clean and fun for the whole family!

A beautiful area in Aurora that has a small zoo with some animals like Peacocks, Wolves, Bald Eagles and a cougar. More than just the animals its the whole surrounding area around the zoo that makes this place so nice to visit and to top it all off it is all 100% FREE which is a great option for families with kids that are looking for something to do fun during the weekend even if you are short on money. This is a new discovery for me and my family but one that we will be back many times to visit.

Fun for everyone, bring the kids, grandma, tha dog and some snacks! You stay in your car cozy and warm as you drive through a wonderful winter wonderland of lights. You may leave a monetary donation if you like, or not.

Love this place for all the local wildlife. Great place to take kids to show them animals they might see around home.

What a surprisingly beautiful little area hidden in Aurora! I took the family here and they all loved it. From the neat little zoo area with things like Bald Eagles, Peacock’s, and a Mountain Lion to the surrounding area that is beautifully laid out around the Zoo. The front entrance of the Zoo has a beautiful flower garden to walk around in and even a free water park type area for kids to run around and play in during the summer. This is a great location for anyone but especially for a family looking to take the kids out but on a budget as this whole experience is FREE!

Great place to spend a day with family, lots of things to see and do. Your Children will love this place. It has Pony rides,train rides and much more. Great attraction :)

Its awesome to have a free zoo. Its a chill place to go on a date or with family and friends.

Awesome experience, even in the winter! The animals were all very active and seemed very well taken care of. Will be back!

Kids have always loved this park & zoo...We have been going for OVER 20 years...Miss the otters! Havent seen them for a while theyre my favorite!The place is clean & well maintained.... I hope it has many years to of giving enjoyment and diversion for the community! I

Great place for the family! My little one loved it!

Love this park even as a young kid, now I bring my own kids and they love it, friendly place for families to come and have a picnic, party etc and see the animals and learn at the same time. Theres a play ground for the kids and also a trail for adults who want to work out and so much more.

We were able to see more animals during our recent visit. Wish they had volunteer keepers to bring excitement and educational opportunities for all the little kids that walk through. Play park behind the zoo and new Mastadon park just down the path were fun new additions to Philips Park this year. Looks like a splash pad was added at front of zoo entrance. For a free zoo its worth a visit but dont expect to be impressed by the exhibits.

Not many animals for a zoo, but there is a tram to ride so its fun. There are also a lot of PokeStops there, which is great.

Really cool place, small but for a little visit theres nothing to complain about. All the animals were very pretty and awesome to look at.

Very limited in variety of animals but a great location. Playground, picnic site, gardens. Has a wolf and a cougar if you can glimpse them. Cute Reptile House with some cool specimens including 2 alligators you can see close up. Eagles, peacocks, owls, falcon or hawks. Free. We had a nice time but not all you want in a zoo experience.

Great for a quick trip with small kids. Always fun. Free!

I love this place. Local, dedicated staff, always improving, they recently added a skating park. With free outdoor movies in the summer, quickly becoming the go-to place for family activities. Please support with a donation when you visit.

This is a great zoo, and its free. Its also right next to a nice playground. They have alligators, mountain lions, wolves, eagles and maybe some other stuff I didnt see.

This is a fantastic community treasure. Some pretty cool animals, most of them were injured in some way and are unable to return to the wild. Caring and dedicated staff. Clean and beautiful park. Cannot recommend enough.

This was free and had several animals for the kids to view. Visitor center was closed for the season, but we still got to view everything else. The boys loved it and it was connected to a park with a HUGE playground. I was pleasantly surprised that the porta potties were clean and well stocked. Would definitely recommend this to families. Also had a beautiful sunken garden which was covered in flowers and would be great for nice photos.

I feel like every time I go, there are less and less animals to see

Its a small zoo, but a nice picnic spot.

Nice place to relax with the family

Very big park..All ages can enjoy there, Not really a big zoo. Kids WILL enjoy those Animals more than any thing.

This is an amazing place to spend the afternoon. So much care and love goes into Phillips Park Zoo. Im thankful it is here, for the people who run it, and those who take care of this zoo and its animals.

2.5 stars. Not much to see here. There are a few animals to view, but it is very small.

A very small zoo but its free so its a nice place to walk around. The water park and garden in front are great as well.

Nice little zoo. One of the few places with owls.

Nice place to spend an afternoon with the kiddos. Not a huge zoo, but theres a couple of great parks close by so you can enjoy a picnic after your zoo trip. Parking is always a breeze.

Nice little zoo. Easy quick afternoon activity if you wanna get out and about. A couple of the animals werent in their enclosures.

Nice little zoo with mostly rescue animals. The kids enjoyed it.

Amazing little place! Fun for the littles.

This is a great small city zoo. Have been here a couple of times. The animals look well cared for. There is usually a docent walking around and will answer questions.It is a great place to take children who want to see animals, but wont last at the bigger zoos.

Beautiful park. Love walking around and taking in the scenery. I enjoy their zoo and my kids really enjoy their playgrounds

This is fun and knowledgeable place to visit and bring kids. Couple hours and kids really enjoy it. Good variety of animals also I have a pretty good size. Then outside of the zoo they also have a playground and a flower garden. On a nice day you can bring the kids and have a picnic.I think there is sometimes a little shuttle/train that drives around starting at the building.

Nice little spot to come.and spend the day with the kids

This small free zoo lets you get close up to see the animals being rehabilitated or unable to live in the wild; well explained signage. A nice walk, not exhausting. In the park, there are picnic spots, Mastodon Lake and a lovely sunken flower garden. The visitor center has touchable mastodon bones and a history of how they lived.

Nice little free zoo. Raptors, reptiles, wolves and a cougar. Set in huge, beautiful park with splash park, playgrounds, picnic area and trails around lake. Great for a family day!

Good for family outing. Zoo is not so big .we can complet visiting the zoo in less than half an hour as it is very small. Cant expect much as it does not have any entry ticket. Outside park is good, they have the volleyball courts near gate2.

Great little zoo with free admission.

Great spot to take kids. The otter is the best part. Stop and say high to him!Philips Park is well designed. The zoo, splash pad, and Mastadon exhibit are all close together. Its close, FREE entertainment for the smalls.

Awesome i had a field trip here way back!

It is small, but nice. Probably the best collection of birds of prey Ive seen in any zoo. It is usually difficult to see the otter, cougar, and wolves, but the other animals are easy to see.

We are so blessed to have the Sunken Garden in our community. Every year it is planted differently and always so beautiful. Thanks to all the hard working folks and designer who grace us with this treasure of Aurora.

I love phillips park zoo and enjoyed seeing all the animals like lions and penguins and eagles. And i got a pepsi with a crosaunt and i loved it

Good park with a small zoo thats interesting. also free. You start by driving thru a few blocks with beds of flowers. Very nice scene. Then you arrive to a waterfall. plenty of parking throughput the park. They have a small lake, tables throughout , kids play area, volleyball area with sand. And my favorite part, the SUNKEN GARDEN. very beautiful area full of flowers. They change them up a little bit each year. A must when visiting Aurora. As a resident, i go here at least once every few months....

A gem of East Aurora. There are very few places that have withstood the test of time as well as Phillips Park Zoo. An educational and fun experience for the family.

Enjoyed seeing the native animals. The alligator moved while we were there so the kids loved that.

Nice hike! Beautiful garden for pictures. Nice variety of snakes, turtles, birds and so on! Kids love it.

I was visiting , from Ohio, and my daughter and 18 month grandson visited Phillips Park Zoo. We had a great experience. We had a picnic lunch, visited the Zoo and then played at the park. It was a great time for all of us.

Our great zoo is still the same great zoo since when I was a kid. Love the unique animals here. It really allows the animals to roam. Love the Reptile House.

Thank you for the guided zoo tour. Amazing people at the zoo!

Went for holiday light show..worth the drive.

Great place for a family outing on a sunny day. Zoo visit is free and there’s a good play area for the kids. A must visit during summers for a picnic.

Great park with a variety of activities to do, see, explore, and just appreciate nature and learn about the history of the area, land, geography, and how historical the city and the area has been in USA history. Decent sized zoo for being free. Something for everyone.

Short, but nice drive-thru Christmas light show.

Small zoo, free, has a sunk in garden that is pretty. Nice place for pictures and family. Has outside water feature for kids. The welcome Center has Mastadon bones. Has restrooms and a big park.

A small zoo that is great for a quick trip out of the house.

We were going to go on the tram, we waited 30 minutes and it finally arrived we waited just to be told that we can’t go on because we need tickets. They cancelled everybody’s ride. So unfair plus we were the first people there. Waiting the lady said that they tried putting everything on the sign. Which they failed at. I wish I could rate this place 0 stars. Really disappointed and would never recommend going their or coming back.

I really enjoyed my visit here!

We love Phillips Park Zoo! Such a fun place to visit. We always enjoy learning new things and visiting the animals!

Great lil park/zoo to have a relaxing walk and look at some animals. This is one of those special small town treats that are hard to come by now days

Could do with putting some money into upkeep. Sad looking! It looked a lot better in 2018.

Wonderful family zoo that is close to home. Not to mention.. FREE!!

The best zoo to visit...small with close up view of animals.

Great place to spend a couple hours with family. New mastadon lake park is very nice

This zoo is completely free, and was very well set up! I was surprised af the amount of exhibits they had and the variety of animals. It was clean, small enough to walk around in an hour or so and a great place fo bring children!

This is a hidden gem of a park. Small free zoo for the kids and a great playground

If youre in Aurora be sure to stop by here cool little zoo and sunken gardens

Love this place, my son loves going to the sprinkler and watching the animals..make sure you donate my son loves putting money in the box