While the summer months see Wakamow Valley packed with patrons pretty much every sunny day, there’s still plenty to see and do once the snow flies.
And sure enough, you’ll rarely go very long wandering around the many trails in the winter months without coming across someone doing the same. Or cross-country skiing. Or skating lap after lap on the Wakamow Oval. Or sitting back and feeding the birds in Kinsmen Wellesley Park. Or even playing disc golf.
Yep, the local urban park is still a happening place even when the mercury dips below zero, and Wakamow Valley Authority general manager Todd Johnson wouldn’t have it any other way.
“A lot of it is just remembering when you were a kid, when you didn’t need anything to do, so you just chose your own path and chose your own winter adventure,” Johnson said.
“One of the best things about the park is there are so many different spots where people can just come out and explore. You can go all the way over from Ninth Avenue all the way down to Plaxton Lake, so there are lots of paths or you can make a snowman in the middle of the field, whatever you want to do.”
A sure sign that people are using the park regularly is how often the Wakamow office loans out sets of snowshoes. Ever since the weather warmed up after the brutal cold snap, the demand has been steady and regular, meaning plenty of folks are getting off the beaten path and doing their own thing.
Those that are more interested in an unencumbered walking experience can tour the miles upon miles of paved trails, which are regularly cleared by the park’s maintenance staff.
Then, of course, there’s the wildly popular Wakamow speed-skating oval. The 400-metre track is maintained regularly by the city, and if it’s a really nice day, be ready to rub shoulders with plenty of your fellow skaters.
“The other weekend when it really warmed up after it was cold for so long, the Oval was packed,” Johnson said. “People love to go for a skate out there when it’s beautiful out and we’re seeing more and more people come out now that it’s a lot nicer out.”
One surprising venue that continues to draw players is the Wakamow Valley Disc Golf course. The 18-hole layout has seen regular play regardless of the temperatures -- with one group even heading out during the -30 C snap earlier this month -- and remains a popular activity.
“If anyone wants to borrow discs to give it a try, they can stop by the office and we still lone those out,” Johnson said. “It’s a pretty fantastic sport that any level can play, and it’s in one of the prettiest parts of the park, so we’re really excited about it.”
The course is completely accessible even with the snow over the last month, although there might be some trudging if you go too far off course.
“It’s located in a multitude of different ranges, some are in tree ranges and others are on the open plain, so some might have a little more snow than others, but players are still getting around no problem and having fun,” Johnson said.
Cross country skiing is also growing in popularity, especially with the advent of a new club aiming to improve and expand the trail system already in place.
“They’re planning to do a lot of work this summer and in the future, so we’re really looking forward to that,” Johnson said. “We know there are a lot of people participating in it, so we’re excited to be working with the city and their group to get some new trails groomed in the park and get another option for some fresh air.”
And if wildlife is your thing, well, take your pick. Birdwatchers can have critters literally eating out of their hand in the bird-feeding area in Wellesley Park, and with so many families of deer in the area, odds are you’ll come across a four-legged herd at some point in your travels. That, on top of the multitude of smaller animals that make Wakamow Valley their home.
For more information on what Wakamow Valley has to offer in the winter months, be sure to visit www.wakamow.ca and to reserve snowshoes or a set of disc golf discs, give their office a call at (306) 692-2717.
