Father's Day Fun at Ballard Park

Start your Father's Day with some fresh air and a hike of Ballard Park. At 10 a.m., staff from Friends of Ballard Park and Rhode Island Families in Nature will lead event goers on a leisurely hike through the park as they search for wildlife, learn about the history and ecology of the park, and take in the spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean and unique peeks at Newport mansions.

The hike is a great opportunity for children to "take Dad out" and give Mom a break, although she is welcome to join! The hike will also count as part of Roger Williams Park Zoo's Nature Swap. The Nature Swap is located in the "Our Big Backyard" exhibit at the zoo. When you bring in a natural item (acorns, rocks, pinecones, etc.), you are awarded points for what you know about the item, your description of your experience when you found it and the type and cleanliness of the item. Nature Swappers must be age 3 and up. To register, visit http://natureswap.rwpzoo.org.

As the group hikes through the one-plus mile of trails, Friends of Ballard Park staff will point out some unique features of the park. Ballard Park was once a working quarry and provided rock to build a myriad of structures, including Doris Duke's Rough Point and the rock slide at Murphy Field.

During the hike, listen for the sounds of peepers croaking in the vernal pond as well as the songs of the Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch and Black-capped Chickadee. Garter snakes may also be slithering through the grass as they wake up from hibernation.

After the hike, there will be some fun Father's Day activities in the quarry meadow. Those interested in attending should meet at the Hazard Road entrance. Plug in 1 Ocean Heights Road into your GPS. The entrance to the park is directly across the street. There is a $10 suggested donation per family for this event. Attendees should wear sturdy shoes as the trails are steep and uneven in places.

For a complete list of events happening at Ballard Park, please visit http://www.ballardpark.org/12_EVENTS.html. Friends of Ballard Park is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting, maintaining and promoting Newport's Only Nature Preserve. Cultural events and educational programming help to promote stewardship of the park and decrease negative park activities. Visit www.ballardpark.org for more information or call 401.619.3377