Buffalo Park is a city owned park positioned on an open plain atop a mesa. It has incredible views of the San Francisco Peaks and Mount Elden. Buffalo Park once operated as a zoo in the 1960’s, but soon was shut down due to lack of funds. A buffalo statue and a rock structure at the entrance are all that remain. Since then this area has become a popular recreational site for runners, hikers, wildlife viewers, dog walkers, mountain bikers… you name it. The open grasslands allow viewing opportunities not typically found within the ponderosa pine vegetation type.