Bronte Creek Provincial Park
Encyclopedia
Bronte Creek Provincial Park is located in Oakville
Oakville, Ontario
Oakville is a town in Halton Region, on Lake Ontario in Southern Ontario, Canada, and is part of the Greater Toronto Area. As of the 2006 census the population was 165,613.-History:In 1793, Dundas Street was surveyed for a military road...

, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....

, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

, and is part of the Ontario Parks
Ontario Parks
Ontario Parks is the branch of the Ministry of Natural Resources that administers the provincial parks in Ontario, Canada. The Ontario Parks system covers over 78,000 square kilometres , about 10 percent of the province's surface area or the equivalent of an area approximately equal to Nova Scotia...

 system.

The 6.4 square kilometres (2.5 sq mi) park is located at the western edge of Oakville, bordering on Burlington
Burlington, Ontario
Burlington , is a city located in Halton Region at the western end of Lake Ontario. Burlington is part of the Greater Toronto Area, and is also included in the Hamilton Census Metropolitan Area. Physically, Burlington lies between the north shore of Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment...

. The park features hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...

 and biking trails, cross country skiing, and a play barn. During the summer, swimming is available in a large outdoor swimming pool. In the winter, ice skating
Ice skating
Ice skating is moving on ice by using ice skates. It can be done for a variety of reasons, including leisure, traveling, and various sports. Ice skating occurs both on specially prepared indoor and outdoor tracks, as well as on naturally occurring bodies of frozen water, such as lakes and...

 can be enjoyed in a large outdoor skating rink. Camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...

 in the park is permitted, including sites with electrical hookups.

History

A provincial park
Provincial park
A provincial park is a park under the management of a provincial or territorial government in Canada.While provincial parks are not the same as national parks, their workings are very similar...

 had been proposed as early as 1956, with the proposed 32 hectares (79.1 acre) site being rejected for reasons of size and location. A subsequent proposal for a larger 219 hectares (541.2 acre) was also rejected; this time due to costs and jurisdiction with the Halton Region Conservation Authority. The current park came into being with help of James W. Snow
James W. Snow
James Wilfred Snow was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1967 to 1985, and was a cabinet minister in the governments of William Davis and Frank Miller. Snow was a member of the Progressive Conservative Party.He was born in Esquesing Township,...

 persuading the Ontario Parks Integration Board in a meeting on Jul 27, 1971.

Spruce Lane Farmhouse

Built in 1899, the Spruce Lane Farmhouse is a turn-of-the-century historic house museum near the remaining original apple orchards. Open in the summer, the house features costumed interpreters. Special events and group programs feature historical themes. The park's Maple Syrup Festival in March is held at the Spruce Lane Farmhouse.

Nature centre

The nature centre
Nature center
A nature center is an organization with a visitor center or interpretive center designed to educate people about nature and the environment. Usually located within a protected open space, nature centers often have trails through their property. Some are located within a state or city park, and...

 offers live animals and exhibits on natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...

, and includes aquariums, terrariums, an observational beehive
Beehive
A beehive is a structure in which bees live and raise their young.Beehive may also refer to:Buildings and locations:* Bee Hive, Alabama, a neighborhood in Alabama* Beehive , a wing of the New Zealand Parliament Buildings...

, and displays on local reptiles, amphibians, birds, fish and insects. The centre is open from May to September and offers natural history and environmental programs for the general public and visiting groups.

Children's Farm

The Children's Farm is located next to the nature centre, and features a mid 19th century barn that has been converted to a play loft and activity area, and stalls with different barnyard animals. Animals on display in the barn and nearby include pigs, chickens, rabbits, goats and sheep. Park staff farm wheat, oats, soybeans and other crops on park land. The Children's Farm is open year round.

External links

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