Jackie Parker Recreation Area

A couple of weeks ago Lorry, the kids and I met up with some of Lorry's relatives and while looking for a nice place to play the name Jackie Parker recreation area came up (4540 50 Street). It used to be a off leash dog park but now it's got a section for walking dogs (leashed) and a couple huge sections that if you have kids are a pretty much must see. The first section is the spray park, it's huge and continuously recycling/purifying the water that is sprayed so it's not wasting much water at all. Morgan and Luke were having a great time running around and under large animal shaped sprayers, turning large water cannons on each other and any other hapless kid/adult in the field of fire. There are small water tables and whatnot to keep smaller children amused for ages off to the side and there is quite a bit of room around the edges to put down a blanket and just relax in the sun only occasionally getting a light misting of water from the wind carrying it.(the picture above is from an Edmonton Journal story http://www.edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/Clubs/2969585/Kids+dogs+loose+together+style/3326514/story.html )

Another great area (and probably my favorite so far since a huge playground area is still being built beside it) is a couple rock climbing walls surrounded by large fake boulders/rocks and big logs connecting to each other. This is a great area in my mind because it combines a bunch of challenges for a diverse age group, and more importantly it's not all "completely safe" and therefore still fun. It is refreshing for me to see a playground/area that is reminiscent of what I grew up with. I can't find a picture of it right now but if you watch the video from that Edm. Journal link you'll see her standing in front of it.

The last section is a large playground area that is still being built but from the looks of it it is going to be a lot of fun. There are picnic places around these areas as well, the sections are staffed with Parks and Rec. people playing with the kids/handing out bandages, there is a decent sized lake with benches around it if you like watching/feeding the birds. All in all I'm very impressed with the place and it has become my favorite place to go ahead of Kinsmen Park.