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12 * WATERLOO CHRONICLE * Wednesday, August 1, 2 iveâ€"yearâ€"old Emma F(iuwland enjoyed her last trip to Laurel Creek Conservation Area‘s reserâ€" voir so much, she‘s hoping her grandmother will take her again before the sumâ€" mer comes to an end. "(I like) that we get to swim and make sandcasâ€" tles," said the Waterloo girl, who visited the park last Wednesday. Ho e or grandmothâ€" s . er, Lore “(I llke, Weinstein, took her get tC grandkids and there for an afternoon of sandc swimming, â€"Emms which turned Conservatic into a hunt + for tadpoles. Plus, it‘s close to home. And that seems to be what brings many Waterloo residents out, according to the park‘s superintendent, Chris Murray. "I think the surprising thing people are taken aback by is we are within the city, and when you come in here you don‘t have that sense at all," he said. "You feel like you‘re somewhere else." Located at 625 Westâ€" mount Rd., near Northfield Drive, the conservation area has much to offer local nature enthusiasts who want to get away from "the hustle and bustle." For starters, visitors to the manâ€"made reservoir can canoe or kayak on the lake, where motorized boats are prohibited. _ Windsurfing and sailing isn‘t as popular as it used to By Jennirer Ormston Chronicle Staff _ Fun, sand and nature at Laurel Creek "(I like) that we get to swim and make sandcastles." â€"Emma Gowland Conservation area visitor of Runners . . . Not Just End Rolls * Carpet * Berbers + Laminate + Ceramic * Hardwood |_ 50 Victoria Street N., Kitchener + 519â€"570â€"2722 f Canada‘s largest retail flooring chain‘! ' be, which Murray attributes to the reservoir‘s small size. "It‘s just not open enough to do that," he said. The waterfront area offers swimmers a sandy beach by the shallow water, as well as nearby picnic areas. But the combination of geese, shallow water, heavy rainfalls and warm temperaâ€" tures means from time to time postings are put up recâ€" ommending people not swim. And because the reserâ€" voir is drained every winter for flood purposes, it‘s not a good venue for fishing. this year. "You might find some small pan fish or suckers or carp, stuff that kids can have fun catching," Murray said. Canoe rentals are availâ€" able from the park‘s gateâ€" house for $10 an hour, plus a $50 deposit which is returned when the boaters are finished. The top end of the lake is shallow, with many visible underwater tree stumps, making it ideal for canoeing, but not for sailing. "With the stumps it creâ€" ates a good opportunity for seeing waterfowl _ and wildlife," Murray said. "It creates habitat for different organisms." _Owned and operated by the Grand River Conservaâ€" 2007 generally is what â€" hapâ€" pens to most n a t uon a | beaches at one point or another," Murray said, adding _ it occurred vyet LIFESTYLE Fiveâ€"yearâ€"old Emma Gowland enjoys an afternoon at Laurel Creek Conservation Area‘s reservoir, where she made sandcastles and played in the water, last Wednesday. tion Authority, the conservaâ€" tion area is a great venue for bird and animal watching. Ducks, geese, blue herons, ospreys, songbirds and indigo buntings are only some of the creatures that bring birdwatchers out. A viewing tower by the lake is the ideal spot to take The Area‘s LARGEST Selection The park also has an abundant wildlife populaâ€" tion, with deer, rabbits and groundhogs, to name only a in all the birds, especially in the spring and fall when they are migrating, accordâ€" ing to Murray. Red foxes and coyotes The conservation area also has a campground with about 130 sites â€" the majority of which have hydro and water hookups â€" also take up residence there occasionally. And park employees spotted wild turkey there this spring for the first time. that are popular among people with trailers. For those looking to get back to nature, there are unserviced sites for people using tents who don‘t want electricity or running water. Continued on page 14 â€"= 2 IENNIEER ORMSTON PHOTO