Rotary Park in Whitecourt

Quite a few years ago when Millar Western Forest Products rebuilt their saw mill, they took the gravel from this area leaving a BIG pond that naturally flushes itself through the gravel to the Athabasca River. The Town of Whitecourt and MWFP worked out a deal where the Town made a Park within the Town, not more than three blocks from the down town area.

 There is a covered picnic area ( Yes, Virginia, it does get HOT and Sunny in the North)

 Every spring they put 1500 Rainbow Trout in the pond for fishing. The limits are 5 per day and the fishermen must be under 14 accompanied by an adult.

 The fountain is kind of cool.

 There are two water slides, one fast and the other slightly slower.

 Kids on their floats now and then get caught in the back eddies and have to be rescued by somebody bigger coming down and bumping them out, or by an adult on shore.

They built a fabulous climbing playground, the biggest that I have seen any where.

 There is also a splash pool with water guns and a big bucket

When the bucket dumps, there are lots of squeals and for the unwary, the chance to be knocked over.

You know, the best of all, IT'S ALL FREE!

Coming out of Hibernation etc.

I took a quick walk around Rotary Park yesterday just to see what was happening. The sun actually came out for the short time that i was there.

I caught this Muskrat swimming along the open space between the ice and shore. Yes, there is still ice! Lots of it!

I was hoping that he would come to shore, but he was just out for a cruise.

The Ospreys returned over the last two days, probably during a snow storm, and are staking out their old nesting site. The town built a platform on top of a telephone pole, and it's been used yearly for the last 8 years or so.

The old man prefers a top of a dead tree where he can keep an eye on things.

It's a start, and a sign that maybe better weather is coming. Rain and snow again this morning!

Two Views

Summer is real nice in the Town Park

Not so nice in the winter with a temperature of -16C and a 40 mile an hour wind!

3 more months 'till this!

SWAMP DOG 2

So much for the water being too cold, and the ducks being uncatchable!

 The chase is on again!

 You can see how the trees are turning to their fall colours.

 Gonna get da duck, gonna get da duck!

 Needless to say, no ducks were hurt in this photo session.

Another Wednesday!

Anybody know what this dude is?

 It doesn't look like it's very attractive, let alone edible.

 Rotary Park is almost deserted in the mornings now. A great place for a dog to be a dog.

 A few retrieves of a stick and we are almost ready.

 A good shake and we are very ready..

 to harasse some ducks. This is much more fun than a stick.

 Gonna get the duck! Gonna get the duck! Total focus is involved. Fortunately, the ducks are better swimmers!