Neil Hawkins Park facts for kids
Neil Hawkins Park is a lovely park found in Joondalup, Western Australia. It sits right next to the beautiful Lake Joondalup and is part of the larger Yellagonga Regional Park. It's a great spot for families and nature lovers to explore!
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Who was Neil Hawkins?
The park is named after a special person called Neil Campbell Hawkins. He was a chairman of an important group called the Metropolitan Regional Planning Authority. This group helped plan how cities and areas would grow. Naming the park after him was a way to honor his work.
Exploring the Park
Neil Hawkins Park has lots to offer! You'll find a small, open grassy area perfect for playing games or relaxing. Around this field, there's a pathway that leads you to different parts of the park. You can walk towards the Lake Joondalup jetty, which is a platform extending over the water. There's also a nice picnic area where you can enjoy a meal with your family and friends. For younger visitors, a fun playground is located near the main picnic spot. The park also connects to a natural bushland area, which is part of the bigger Yellagonga Regional Park.
Wildlife at the Park
This park is a fantastic place to spot many different kinds of birds. If you visit, keep an eye out for common birds like the pigeon and the white cockatoo. You might also see water birds such as the Pacific black duck, geese, and the Australian wood duck swimming on the lake. Don't forget to look up into the trees for colorful Australian ringneck parrots!
The Yaberoo Budjara Heritage Trail
Did you know there's an ancient path that starts near Neil Hawkins Park? It's called the Yaberoo Budjara Heritage Trail. This trail stretches all the way to Loch McNess, which is in Yanchep National Park. For a very long time, Indigenous Australian people used this route as a migration path, following a chain of lakes and swamps. It's a path full of history and natural beauty!