Oh there's a do at the zoo, and watch that park!
On Sunday viridis_ama and I decided to spend the morning wandering around both the zoo and the Assiniboine Park to see what has been going on there since.
Renovations are certainly underway at the zoo, with the new polar bear enclosure well under construction and what we assume to be a butterfly house going in at the west edge of the park just behind the arctic foxes. I ended up getting quite a few good critter photos, though I didn't feel all that good about them at the time. It's funny how a second look will change that.
After the zoo we decided to walk through the park and see the new duck pond. Not only has the pond doubled in size, but the chain link fence is gone and the area is simply amazing! No longer is the pond a look-don't-touch event, but it is accesible from all edges and the landscaping just makes you want to hang out there. We stopped for a smokie from a vendor's cart before going on to walk over the bridge to Joe Black's coffee.
The stop at Joe Black's was decided for a couple reasons... not only do I like coffee, but we had a Groupon that we wanted to use. But best of all, Joe Black's is run by the Zen Bakery, the folks that made our wedding cake. And what do you know, but one of the flavours we chose for our cake was there waiting to be had!
Glancing out the window we just happened to see fetlock and crew wander off toward the park, but given traffic on my now-tired feet I didn't make much of an effort to pursue... but it's good to see that everyone was taking advantage of the good weather.
Once our coffee break was over we decided to loop back the new kids area that had added to the park and only opened recently, and once through there'd we'd pick up the car and head for home.
So, when they said it was a kids' area I had no idea of the scope of it. Not just a little sandbox and a set of swings... this area had a little "stream", water activities, a giant green felty climbing mountain, swings, a crows nest, and who knows what else. If this place had existed when I was a kid I would've lived in there and defended my domain from the crows nest! Arrr!
I know I may've been optimistic when the city span the zoo and park into an arm's-length conservancy... but I think this has far surpassed what I thought they might've been able to do. Our park is even more beautiful and inviting than before and soon the zoo will be reaping the same benefits!
Huzzah for progress!
And yes, photos will follow...
Renovations are certainly underway at the zoo, with the new polar bear enclosure well under construction and what we assume to be a butterfly house going in at the west edge of the park just behind the arctic foxes. I ended up getting quite a few good critter photos, though I didn't feel all that good about them at the time. It's funny how a second look will change that.
After the zoo we decided to walk through the park and see the new duck pond. Not only has the pond doubled in size, but the chain link fence is gone and the area is simply amazing! No longer is the pond a look-don't-touch event, but it is accesible from all edges and the landscaping just makes you want to hang out there. We stopped for a smokie from a vendor's cart before going on to walk over the bridge to Joe Black's coffee.
The stop at Joe Black's was decided for a couple reasons... not only do I like coffee, but we had a Groupon that we wanted to use. But best of all, Joe Black's is run by the Zen Bakery, the folks that made our wedding cake. And what do you know, but one of the flavours we chose for our cake was there waiting to be had!
Glancing out the window we just happened to see fetlock and crew wander off toward the park, but given traffic on my now-tired feet I didn't make much of an effort to pursue... but it's good to see that everyone was taking advantage of the good weather.
Once our coffee break was over we decided to loop back the new kids area that had added to the park and only opened recently, and once through there'd we'd pick up the car and head for home.
So, when they said it was a kids' area I had no idea of the scope of it. Not just a little sandbox and a set of swings... this area had a little "stream", water activities, a giant green felty climbing mountain, swings, a crows nest, and who knows what else. If this place had existed when I was a kid I would've lived in there and defended my domain from the crows nest! Arrr!
I know I may've been optimistic when the city span the zoo and park into an arm's-length conservancy... but I think this has far surpassed what I thought they might've been able to do. Our park is even more beautiful and inviting than before and soon the zoo will be reaping the same benefits!
Huzzah for progress!
And yes, photos will follow...