“6, ENTERTAINMENT, THE HERALD, Wed. Nov. 24, 1976

Roam aT HOME

LA TRAVEL BRITISH COLUMBIA FEATURE.

~ | CRANBROOK'S
IDLE WILD PARK
by Ginnie Beardsley
When a city outgrows its
old reservoir, al] too often
the water is drained away,
the land filled: and a
tential for recreation is

ost forever. Cranbrook
youngsters, oldsters and
everyone in between can
thank their fire fighters’
association for that not
happening in this pleasant
East Kootenay city.

.. Instead, the 12-million..

gallon (54-million litre) one-
time water supply has
become the centre of 45-acre
(18-hectare) Idle Wild Park,
whose name accurately
reflects the nature of the

‘surroundings. Located only -

three-quarters.of a mile (a
kilometre) from downtown
Cranbrook, with . paved
-aecess roads and parking
lots, the park is still a
natural place, with the hand

of man used sparingly in.
_ restrooms.

point of Idie Wild

- harmony with nature.
Focal
_ Parkis the reservoir, which,
together with its spillway

‘and dam, has been rein-
forced .with cribbing for
safety: and enhanced with
pathways, foot bridges, and
ishing. wharves with safety

- pails. The: wharves are

-” strictly for children under 15

and. senior citizens, for.

“whose angling pleasure. the

water has been stocked with _
fish. : oe
One of the delights of Idle
Wild. Park is a wilderness.
playground where a cabin,
treehouse, lookout tower —
and even a train~— have
been constructed of natural
logs. These constructions
evoke the pioneer days of .
Sam Steele, in whose honor.
an annual -celebration is
held. 5
_No noisy .motor boats’
compete with birds’ songs
here — in fact, the only
boating is in supervised
boating safety courses..
Similarly, the depth of the
water and the area it covers.
rule out swimming. :
The recreational and
creature comforts. of the

park have been built in

eeping with the natural
surroundings. These include
picnic and barbecue area,
an outdoor ampitheatre and
bandshell, rain shelters and:
Future.
development of about 11.
acres (four hectares) is:
planned by local scouting’

groups, —sity. -
The park includes a
horseshoe pitch, a

gymkhana practice field, a
mini ski hill and toboggan
run, together with ‘trails.
suitable’ for cross-country
skiing. : .

The park is truly a.
community effort. The city

_ of Cranbrook donated the ©

land, the provincial
government gave a grant, a -

federal LIP granthelped out =

and many citizens worked: -
on the park. The Cranbrook’. _
Fire Fighters Association”
spearheaded the efforts.
(This Roam at Home

article is one of. a series: ©
provided by Tourism British:
Columbia.) er:

Instan

1.

TTT

FLAVOR
25%)

In some places salt.is so. |.

scarce it is considered a. treat:
as children regard sugar in our-

own ¢ulture,. 227):

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