Florence Bank Donates $5,000 to Help Bring Back the Forest Park Train

Florence Bank is pleased to announce it has made a $5,000 donation to help bring back a longtime family attraction to Forest Park in Springfield.

The Forest Park train once carried children and families to and from the Forest Park Zoo before the train was taken out of service in 2016. The brand-new train will begin running in 2027 and is the second nostalgic attraction to be revived in recent years following the return of the swan boats on Porter Lake.

Photos of the new train were unveiled at a brief ceremony held on Tuesday at the Monkey House at Forest Park. Springfield Mayor Dominic Sarno was joined by Tom Ashe, Executive Director of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management for the City of Springfield; Matt Garrity, President and CEO of Florence Bank; and members of the Friends of Springfield Parks, the organization leading the fundraising efforts for the train.

“A big thank you to the generous donation from Florence Bank, which will continue to help us reach our goal of bringing the Forest Park Train back," said Sarno. “Florence Bank always steps up for our parks, last year they were a major sponsor of Bright Nights at Forest Park – which is right around the corner. I am deeply grateful to our generous philanthropic donors for stepping up to support our very own train for kids and families to enjoy as we work to bring back another affordable, family friendly park activity.”

Ashe echoed Mayor Sarno’s sentiments.

“Florence Bank is an outstanding community partner and their support will help bring the Forest Park train back to life for local families to enjoy.”

Garrity praised the efforts of city officials and the Friends of Springfield Parks for helping restore a longtime attraction.

“The Forest Park train was a beloved attraction and tradition that families enjoyed when visiting the Park,” said Matt Garrity, president and CEO of Florence Bank. “We are proud to help bring back the train to give the next generation the chance to make memories of their own.”