Tag: parks near Owen Sound

New Boardwalks For Hibou

Oct 2013aWe are very grateful for all the help we get from our volunteers.  Thank you so much for your contributions of time and energy.  The pictures show well the success of work teams in the past.  You are great.

We have scheduled two mornings when we plan to build boardwalks again.  We need volunteers.  Can you help?  Please let us know ahead.  Email Bob Knapp rmknapp@yahoo.com

Date and Time:  Wed July 27 and Thurs July 28,  9:00 to 12:30.

Location:  meet at the garage at the left parking lot at main beach.

Bring: hammer, work gloves and ear protection if you have it and a bathing suit if you want to swim.Oct 2013 e

Plan:  There will be pre-cut wood on the site.  We will work in teams to build 8 ft sections.  They will be stored in the garage until a later date when we use them to replace some of the older sections in the wetland.

Please contact Bob Knapp ahead if you plan to come:

rmknapp@yahoo.com or phone 519 371 1255

Enthusiastic Group Begins

by Marie Knapp

For me this is like picking up where we left off over 30 years ago.  Bob had been very involved with the procurement of Hibou.  We have continued to visit the area for a walk along the shore or for a ski or snowshoe over the years.  The water levels changing have had an impact on the beach at Paynter’s Bay but that didn’t keep us from entering the trails more to the south and finding a place for a refreshing dip in the water on a hot summer’s day.

Frequently it crossed my mind that we should develop a Friends of Hibou to help with the upkeep of the area.  In his book published in 2008, Bob Knapp wrote: “Thirty five years have passed since Hibou became a park.  Perhaps it is time to form a friends of Hibou organization to assist with the park so that it continues to be a very special place on Georgian Bay“.

The timing is right.  Malcolm Kirk died in September 2012.  In his obituary I found the following: “An ardent conservationist throughout his life, Mac was deeply committed to the preservation of Ontario’s and Canada’s natural heritage. Mac and his generation were the pioneers of Ontario’s modern environmental movement. His legacy is manifested in numerous nature reserves which were secured in conjunction with public and non-profit nature organizations.”  Yes the time is right!  It is partly filling a legacy left behind by those of another generation who were ahead of their times.  This is very exciting!

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