When Spring’s warm sunshine brightens the day, birds sing, and people like me with a camera in hand, head out to play.
For the WHOLE day. At a quaint spot called Irvine Park.
It wasn’t a day to stay inside. I didn’t even ride my bike like I had planned. But, I still got out and had fun as I strolled along with a friend around the park areas in our quaint town of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.
We started out at the corner of:
From the moment you start walking, the park draws you into it as you wind your way through nature. The trees are just starting to get their buds. Even the barren branches are gorgeous at this time of year.
You can stop to take a peek into the past where the water from the springs was stored. No more bears around this side of the park anymore, though, whew…they have their own special den on the other side of the park.
The flowers were starting to sprout in random spots.
The park winds its way through the trees and over the Duncan Creek. It is a nice site to look at the dam from this side of the park called Glen Lock Overlook.
As the weather warms up and construction continues, there’s a new addition to the park that will open up and we’ll be able to walk over Duncan Creek to the other side. Through the trees, you can see where the new fishing area is being constructed.
I’ll need to stop back again to stroll across the new walkway bridge when it’s done.
Our town’s Irvine Park is funded by generous donations from the public and businesses. It was started decades back, in 1906, by the Irvine family who donated 165 acres to set up the original park along with funds dedicated to preserving it for generations to come.
You can bike, walk or drive through it with the top down on your car. Quite nostalgic in a way, eh?
The park has long been a choice spot for families to bring their kids to play.
We sure did our share of visiting the park when our kids were little. Even watched them pose for Prom pictures here.
It is intended to be a free place to discover nature and beauty of the area.
And enjoy time with family and friends. The historical center hopes to move here someday too. Through the generosity of donating parties.
There are plenty of free and paid for recreational activities to do here in Chippewa Falls.
The zoo is a big draw for all.
It’s so generous of the companies and families who sponsor the animals.
We were curious about checking out the other side of the bridge over Duncan Creek, so we headed back to the car and drove over to see what was happening. We walked around where the new construction includes a boat landing area and a dock with handicap access.
It was a perfect way to spend a beautiful day. It was hard not to feel the joy of walking around in nature and seeing what’s new since the last time I was there to visit. If I could carry a tune, I would’ve been singing.
I was as happy as this Brown Thrasher as we strolled around the park. I’ll be back – yes I will. If you’re ever in the area, I hope you take the chance to visit the park. You won’t be disappointed!
Post Inspiration – Nature
PS – Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend! What do you think of Irvine Park – pretty cool spot isn’t it!?
nothing like a day in the park, happy to see your snow is gone
Yes, it was lovely – and no more snow is a wonderful thing. Even warm enough to wear shorts!! WooHoo!
What a beautiful day. I love the photos. I like it when communities take pride in their parks and natural areas. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Dan, I’m glad you enjoyed it. Me, too, it is so nice to see our community come together to keep this park going.
The park looks great Shelley, love the dam/waterfall.
Thank you, John! It is a gorgeous view.
I enjoy seeing and going to parks like the one you’ve featured here. Of course anything on Bear Den Rd has to be fabulous. Although I did immediately think of Yogi Bear and Boo-Boo, but you spoke of no picnic baskets so maybe they weren’t there?
You’d like this park for sure! LOL – years ago they had the bear den on that road. It was a sad, sad, sad looking brick and metal cage. The spot they have now is glorious and the bears are much happier there. There are plenty of picnic spots – free from the bears wandering in. Still within distance of being able to peek at them through their glass windows.
Nature Walk With Shelley!! Wonderful tour of a fabulous spot. Wow – something for everyone :). Great photos!
Yes! That’s a great way to describe it! Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed the photos!
Beautiful! Thanks for taking us along with you through those wonderful photos.
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!!
The brown thrasher is the Georgia state bird.
We have a couple of good walking parks near us. Sadly, my knees make it just about impossible to take advantage of them. We used to do a lot of walking, though.
Really – I didn’t know that about the brown thrasher. Maybe this one was telling every other bird about how nice and warm it is in Georgia compared to WI!? Sorry to hear your knees prevent you from walking. 🙁
I like Irvine Park Shelley. It reminds me a little of our Elizabeth Park, only Irvine Park looks bigger. Ours is over a century old and also donated by a family but with the stipulation that they name the park after their daughter “Elizabeth” … the old bridges have been preserved to look as the original bridges did and the old willows are as old as the Park. I liked the bear den too. Very nice – I’d be going on lots of walks at the Park.
Oh, yes, Linda – you’d love this park. The zoo is fun and they have ducks too! The petting zoo will open up soon, so I’ll be back to check that out as well. The park is 368 acres, so it is big. Lots of roads and paths to walk on. You’d find plenty of critters to talk to! Glad you enjoyed my take on the first walk of the season for me!
Yes it looked fun and glad you decided to walk and leave the bike at home Shelley – easier to explore the nooks and crummy. The petting zoo will be fun too. There is one at Heritage Park and it’s been there for years and I went for the first time last year. They had Santa and Mrs. Claus in July and some reindeer. Got there early for some photo ops, but the reindeer weren’t there – too warm for them, so their handlers didn’t bring them. Visited the rest of the animals though – a kid at heart. A few goats but no screaming goats. 🙂
Aw, that sounds like a great place to visit and find photo ops. It’s good for us to embrace that kid at heart! LOL – good for you on that trip to have no screaming goats, that’s funny!! 😉
Yes, it is. I was the only adult there by myself and not with kids. The silent goats just kind of looked at me like they were bored. 🙂 There was a very bony cow named “Gracie” there and I made the remark that “boy, does that girl have a pair of hips!” (She was very skinny, all hips and I later read in the local online newspaper that she had a digestive disorder and had lost a lot of weight and had to be euthanized … so I felt badly for that remark, but who knew?)
Aw…poor Gracie…it was a clever remark, though, how would you know otherwise?!
That’s true – she sure was bony though.
A great contender for Jo’s Monday Walks https://restlessjo.me/jos-monday-walk/
or sonofabeach’s Which Way https://sonofabeach96.com/2019/04/25/which-way-challenge-april-25-2019/
Aw, thank you for the suggestions! I shared and gave you credit for the referrals :-)!
No problem Shelley. Ever so glad you shared to many others 🙂
I appreciate you! Thank you!
Hi! Thanks so much for dropping by, and these are all great. Looks like a terrific park. Hope to see you back again. 😊
Thank you! You’re welcome – glad Brian suggested the trip over to see you!
Me too. Come back any time. 😃
Thank you for taking us on this beautiful stroll through the park. quite serene and inspiring.
That waterfall is beautiful. Need to find one near me.
Thank you, Drew, glad you enjoyed the walk. I hope you are able to find a nice park near you to walk around in!
Already found two. Thanks.
Woohoo – lucky you!!
Going to visit Gatorland on Wednesday. Seems like a normal Floridian thing to do. lol
LOL – Way to join in on the wild side of life in Florida ;-)!
Laughing so hard
🙂
Amazing how very different our worlds are, isn’t it? I was walking with Janet in the States a little while ago and everywhere was flooded! This is a beautiful area. Many thanks for sharing 🙂 🙂
Yes, it is. And yes, we’ve had our share of flooding in the states this year. Thank you for taking a peek into my small section of the world. 🙂