I have often wondered how people can live in a place and not realize all the attractions it has to offer.

Well, I was humbled in the summer of 2021, when my son and his family invited me on a little picnic to celebrate my birthday. “How about meeting us at Little Lake Park?”, he asked.

“Where is that?”, was my reply. I was crushed when he informed me that it was “not far from where you live. Just go down Eveline and turn right on Dorchester Avenue.” How embarrassing. I had lived here for four years, was blogging about attractions in Red River North, and here was my son from Winnipeg, giving me directions to a park in Selkirk that I didn’t know existed.

I was one of “those people”.

https://www.myselkirk.ca/discover-selkirk/images/

Little Lake Park was the perfect place for such an informal outing. My daughter-in-law and the two eldest boys did some hiking on a couple of the attractive little trails, while the youngest two played in the playground, and my son and I visited.

Established in 1991 as a Province of Manitoba Ecological Significant Area, the park is an example of a river bottom forest. Most of the land is in its natural state and features over 100 species of plants.

Little Lake Park is a perfect example of a “hidden gem”, a fun place for family outings, picnics, and relaxation. This experience got me busy looking at how many other “hidden gems” there are, just in Selkirk.

Penwarden Park is located on the west end of Moody Avenue, not far from Lord Selkirk Regional Secondary School It is a quiet park, featuring a play structure, swing set, benches, walking trails, and plenty of green space. It is a perfect place for a picnic, playing catch, or just enjoying the sun.

The park is named after William (Bill) Penwarden, who was known in the community for his promotion of sports and recreation opportunities.

Although I have written about it before, I feel that Red Feather Farm Memorial Park is another of these “gems”. Since it is on Edstan Place, just off Eveline, it isn’t an obvious choice for people seeking a unique attraction.

In the summer, the park is awash with beautiful flowers, thanks to the efforts of the Selkirk Horticultural Society.

The park has a significant historical background, having been a poultry farm, converted into a temporary military barracks during World War I. It features gardens, benches, interpretive signage, and a memorial dedicated to the officers and men of the 108th Selkirk and Manitoba Battalion.

Finally, as proof that Selkirk hasn’t “gone to the dogs”, but is definitely “dog-friendly”, it boasts a 1.75-acre dog park, located in a “gem” that is very well-known to locals and visitors alike – The Selkirk Park, located at the north end of the city, on the banks of the Red River.

The dog park is surrounded by a four-foot-high chain link fence and offers a great place to exercise and play with the four-legged members of your family. It is a nice mix of trees, open grassy spaces, and provides bags for owners to pick up doggy waste, plus garbage cans for them to dispose of the bags.

There are more of these “hidden gems” that I will be referring to from time to time in coming months, and I am sure there are that I am unaware of many more that can be found elsewhere in Red River North.

If you know of such “tourist treasures”, I would be grateful if you would tell me of them. Just e-mail them to “Bob’s Blog, info@redrivernorthtourism.com, because they are reasons for people from near and far to visit the region.

As I always say:

Hidden Gems