Harrison Park

By about lunch the rain showers had stopped so we headed out for our weekend excursion to Harrison Park in Owen Sound.  We had a great soup and sandwich lunch in the restaurant, and I managed well in my wheelchair.  Glad to know I can comfortably handle a restaurant.

This plaque tells a bit of the story; the park was donated to the city in the early 1900's, and facilities have evolved ever since.   My grandparents lived Owen Sound and I remember bringing them to the park for a drive.

September is the month for the salmon run.  The local anglers group has done a lot of habitat improvement and promotes it for tourists.  They built the first fish Ladder in Ontario and run their own hatchery.  More details tomorrow.

This is what you see when you look down from the bridge, salmon swimming upstream in search of a place to spawn.  All the fish here have already survived the fish ladder downstream.

The most interesting feature from a historical  perspective is Owen Sound's role as one northern terminus of the underground railway.  An Emancipation Day picnic for the local black community has been held here since 1862.  This story is definitely worth a post of its own.

There's a beautiful stretch of open parkland along the river.  Most of these planted trees are donated in memory of someone.

There are a number of other interesting features, including a small campground, hiking and skiing trails, and a collection of wild bird species.  I'm sure Harrison Park will become one of our regular destinations,  with its wheelchair accessible trails  and restaurant!

We headed home after a great outing.  At one point where the highway crests a hill, a wide expanse of Georgian Bay opens out before you, at least on a sunny day like today.