Chopin Park (Windsor)

Name: Chopin Park
Location: Franklin Avenue & Rossini Blvd, Windsor
Website: n/a
Map: Click here for a Google map.

Dog Notes:

• Must use leash
• Bring your own waste bags
• There is one garbage can
  
• Bring your own water
  

Family Notes:

• No washrooms or seating areas
  
• Senior and junior swing sets
  
• Small playground equipment
  
• Softball diamond
  
• 3.8 acres with lots of open, grassy areas
  

Notes: Not very well lit at night.

Malden Park (Windsor)

Name: Malden Park
Location: 4200 Malden Road, Windsor
Website: http://www.citywindsor.ca

Dog Notes:

• Must use leash
• Bring your own waste bags
• There are lots of garbage cans around the park
• Washrooms are available but you might want to bring your own water as the opening times may vary
  

Family Notes:

• Lots of picnic tables and areas to have a nice lunch
• War memorial
• Toboggan hill and lots of trails
  
• Pond with ducks and geese
  
• 175 acres with naturalized or paved trails for hiking, biking, etc.

Notes: On cooler days, bring proper attire as the area is quite open and the wind is strong. On the day we went there were glass bottles smashed all over the memorial so we had to stay away.

Enjoying Life

Sorry for the hiatus! Things have been very busy and we are getting used to some changes in our life.

I have recently started a part-time job at Sanson Estate Winery and you can read more about that on My Local Food, my blog about trying to eat locally in Windsor and Essex County.

The other time-consuming thing has been preparing our house for the arrival of our foster dog, Jonathon. We are now blessed with two corgis that make our home a wonderful place to be. So from now on, the photos are sure to include Jonathon's tri-colours along with Leeloo's brindle coat.

The Hounds of Walkerville (Windsor)

Name: The Hounds of Walkerville
Location: 460 Giles Blvd East, Windsor
Website: http://www.thehoundsofwalkerville.com

Dog Notes:

• Doggie day care and grooming
  
• Socializing your dog is a VERY important part of a dog's development
• Excellent rates for all services provided
• Owned and operated by Karen Jones, a vet tech with specialties in canine behaviour, dentistry, and grooming
  

Family Notes:

• Well, this really isn't a family activity but it can help your sanity!
  

John R. Park Homestead (Harrow)

Name: John R. Park Homestead
Location: 915 County Road 50, Harrow
Website: http://www.erca.org

Dog Notes:

• Must use leash
• There are lots of garbage cans around the park
• Bring your own waste bags
  
• Washrooms are available but you might want to bring your own water

Family Notes:

• Lots of picnic tables and areas to have a nice lunch
• Boardwalk along the waterfront
  
• 1850s house/museum, farm buildings, blacksmith shop, farm animals
  
• $4.50 Adults, $2.50 Children, $12.00 Family
  

Notes: Bring sunscreen and your own food and drinks. There are some fruit and vegetable stands down the road though if you want to stop and pick up fresh food. There are also 2 wineries very near by.

NEWS: Pet Owner Responsibility Bylaw

From the Windsor Essex County Humane Society:

At its meeting on May 20, 2008 the Council of the City of Windsor agreed to facilitate public meetings in each of the five wards to document the public’s response to the Humane Society’s proposed ‘Pet Owner Responsibility Bylaw’.

Please consider attending and adding your voice. If you are a dog owner then you may also have a love of animals in general and if you love cats (or if you want to see the stray population controlled) then you should attend and support this cause.

Meetings are being held this week and next to review the information.

You can get details from the City of Windsor.

Or get more information through the Humane Society's website, including an overview of the proposal.

I license my dog each year and would be willing to do this for my two cats as well. I find the cost negligible when you consider the reward. Please join me!
.

Blueberry Social

Celebrate blueberry season this Saturday, August 9th, at John R. Park Homestead (915 County Road 50 E, Harrow) from 10am to 4pm.

Dogs on leash are welcome!

There will also be:

• Craft vendors
• Blueberry pie
• Ice cream sundaes
• Live music
• Games for kids

You can also pick your own blueberries that same day at nearby Klassen Farms (954 Co Rd 50 E, Harrow).

I'm hoping to make it there with Leeloo so I'll post more information after the event.

Bert Weeks Memorial Gardens (Windsor)

Name: Bert Weeks Memorial Gardens
Location: Riverside Drive East (between Parent & Langlois), Windsor
Website: http://www.citywindsor.ca/

Dog Notes:

• Must use leash
• Dogs are not allowed in the fountain area (phooey!)
  
• There are few garbage cans on the trail so you may have to carry your bags
  
• Waste bags are available at some entry points
• Washrooms are available during the day (close to Parent Ave) but bring your own water
• Paved trails (1.2 km round trip if you go from the parking lot on Parent to the end of the eastern trail and back)

Family Notes:

• Lots of benches and lots of shady areas
• Sun dial and water fountains with lots of seating
• Some shade along the waterfront but mostly open
• Connects to Hatch Memorial Wildflower Gardens with information signs
• Walk, run, bike or rollerblade (fully accessible)
• Washrooms are open during the day
  

Notes: Bring a lot of water as the majority of the trail is in direct sunlight. Unfortunately dogs are not allowed in the fountain area so you have to stay on the path along Riverside or along the waterfront while your family enjoys a close up of the fountain.

Great Western Park (Windsor)

Name: Great Western Park
Location: Riverside Drive East & Parent Avenue, Windsor
Website: not found

Dog Notes:

• Must use leash
• There are lots of garbage cans along the path
  
• Waste bags are available at some of the parking lots but on this day they were empty
• Washrooms are available during the day in front of the casino
• Paved and gravel trails (1.6 km round trip if you go from the parking lot on Parent to the casino and back)

Family Notes:

• Lots of benches and some picnic tables
• Some shade along the waterfront but mostly open
• Lots of playground equipment and swings
  
• Walk, run, bike or rollerblade (fully accessible)
• In front of the casino there is a bike rental and ice cream stand (ice cream, slushies, hot dogs, chips); bike rental for Monday & Tuesday was $6/hr for 2 bikes with child cart available (for an additional fee)
  
• Washrooms are open during the day
  

Notes: Bring a lot of water as there is not much shade and on a hot day, your dog may need to take frequent breaks. Bring some cash to enjoy a snack at the ice cream place and sit at one of their shaded picnic tables.

Dog Wash for the Humane Society

From time-to-time I'd like to stray from my posts to add information about important dog-related events. One of the organizations that I heavily support is the Windsor Humane Society. Many people don't know that they are not funded by the City and the employees work very hard to protect as many animals as possible. Without municipal funds, the society relies on donations and fundraisers to keep their doors open.

If you can, please support this upcoming fundraiser:

Dog Wash & BBQ Fundraiser
When: Sunday, July 20, 2008 -
Where: Paws for Love (Holden Avenue)
Cost: $10 / dog
Hot dogs, pop and chips are available for $1 each.

To get more information on this and other fundraising events, you can visit the Humane Society's website.
.

Ford Test Track Park (Windsor)

Name: Ford Test Track Park
Location: Seminole & Milloy, Windsor
Website: http://www.citywindsor.ca/

Dog Notes:

• Must use leash
• There are lots of garbage cans around the park
• Waste bags are available at all of the major entrances
• Washrooms and fountains are available during events (so most nights during the summer)
• Paved track (1 mile long)

Family Notes:

• Lots of seating areas to watch baseball and soccer
• Playground equipment and swings are located at the South end of the park
  
• Walk, run, bike or rollerblade the 1-mile track (fully accessible)
• Concession stand and washrooms are open during events
  

Notes: Do not leave valuables in your car as break-ins have been frequent during busy nights.

Devonwood Conservation Area (Windsor)

Name: Devonwood Conservation Area
Location: Cabana & Division Road, Windsor
Website: http://www.erca.org/

Dog Notes:

• Must use leash
• There's only one garbage can and it's in the parking lot
• No washrooms or fountains so bring your own water and waste bags
• Crushed gravel trail (4.5 km of trails)

Family Notes:

• Two well-shaded picnic tables are located at the entrance
• Consider taking mosquito repellent
• Good birding spot

Notes: You can only get to the parking lot from westbound Cabana Road.

You might want to print out the map on ERCA's website to take with you. The trails twist and turn and there are NO signs so you can end up outside of the park if you go the wrong way as there are a few exits.

Point Pelee National Park (Leamington)

Name: Point Pelee National Park
Location: 407 Monarch Lane, Leamington
Website: http://www.pc.gc.ca/

Dog Notes:

• Must use leash
• Garbage cans available throughout the park
  
• There are fountains and washrooms throughout the park but they are quite spread out on some of the trails so bring your own water if you are hiking
  
• Dog bags are located at the start of most of the trails
  
• Choose from paved, boardwalk or gravel trails from 0.5 km to 4 km in length (12 km of trails overall)
  

Family Notes:

• Many picnic areas and beaches with swimming
  
• Nature centre, gift shop, shuttle to "the Point"
• Bicycle and canoe rentals
  
• Popular birding spot

Alexander Park (Windsor)

Name: Alexander Park
Location: Riverside Drive East (between Strabane and Rossini), Windsor
Website: http://www.citywindsor.ca/

Dog Notes:

• Must use leash
• Garbage cans available throughout the park but they are very spread out
• Bring your own water & bags
• Paved walkway along waterfront (approx. 0.75 km long)
• Usually lots of stray geese
  

Family Notes:

• Large playground area including swings
• Many benches, picnic tables and sunny spots
• Cute memorial garden and gazebo
• Lots of parking
• Popular fishing spot
  
• Washrooms located at west end of park (our walk was Saturday at 10am and they were open!)

There used to be a second memorial garden with hundreds of rose bushes that have now been all dug out. Why did the city let that happen?!? Is it still considered a memorial garden if there's no garden left?

Remington Booster Park

Name: Remington Booster Park
Location: Lillian & Edinborough, Windsor
Website: http://www.citywindsor.ca/

Dog Notes:

• Must use leash up to off-leash area
• Garbage cans available throughout the park and one specifically in the dog area
• Bring your own water
• Clean-up bag dispensers provided
• Grass & mulch areas (gets very muddy in poor weather)
• Smaller fenced in area for small dogs, training, etc.
• Large variety of breeds and temperaments

Family Notes:

• Actual off-leash area NOT recommended for young children
• Picnic table available
• Library, water park, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, soccer fields, walking track
• On-site parking

We park in the library parking lot at the corner of Edinborough and Lillian. Then walk past the waterpark and the dog area is behind the tennis courts (go to the left of the basketball court and follow the fence).

Wagner's Orchards (Maidstone)

Name: Wagner Orchards & Estate Winery
Location: 1222 8th Concession Road, Maidstone
Website: http://wagnerorchards.com/

Dog Notes:
- Must use leash
- Garbage cans available around the parking lot
- Bring your own water and clean-up bags
- Dirt & gravel trails throughout the farm
- Visit the back pasture, pumpkin patch and orchards
- Stray cats and birds (turkeys, geese, etc.)

Family Notes:
- Fruit picking: apple, pumpkin, peaches
- On-site bakery
- Fruit wines available
- Playground equipment, wagon rides
- Horses, cows, geese, turkeys, chickens, cats