Oak Park, Minot, North Dakota facts for kids
Oak Park is a cool park and a neighborhood in Minot, North Dakota. It's located in the beautiful Souris Valley. This park is huge, covering more than 50 acres of wooded land. It's a great place for outdoor fun and learning about nature!
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What Makes Oak Park Special?
Oak Park is known for its many trees, especially the big oak trees it's named after. You can also spot ash and elm trees here. The park is a fantastic spot for nature lovers and anyone who enjoys being outdoors.
Nature and Wildlife
Oak Park is a haven for birds! The Souris Valley Birding Club often meets here to watch different kinds of birds. You might see:
- Hooded mergansers
- Wood ducks
- Canada geese
- Kingfishers
- Great blue herons
The park is right next to the Souris River, also known as the Mouse River. There's even a small oxbow lake inside the park, which is a U-shaped lake formed when a river changes its course.
Fun Activities at the Park
There's always something to do at Oak Park! It has lots of trails for walking and biking, some are paved and some are unpaved. On hot days, kids love the splash pad, a fun area with water jets. There's also a volleyball court if you want to play a game with friends.
Events and Gatherings
Oak Park is a lively place with many events throughout the year:
- Concerts: The Minot Area Council of Arts hosts "Arts in the Park" concerts here. You can enjoy live music outdoors!
- Farmers Market: From July to October, a farmers market sets up shop at Oak Park on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. You can find fresh local produce and other goodies.
- Christmas in the Park: As you can see in the picture, the park lights up beautifully during the holiday season with a special light display.
In 2011, the park and the surrounding area experienced a big flood from the Souris River. Because of this, the farmers market had to move to a different spot temporarily. Even after the flood, Oak Park showed how strong it was. It even won the "America's Favorite Park Contest" in 2011, which was sponsored by Coca-Cola! This award came with a $100,000 grant to help the park.
The Oak Park Theater
Right across from Oak Park is the Oak Park Theater. This theater is special because it's the only independent movie theater still running in Minot. It first opened in 1961 but closed in 1980. For a while, it was a pool hall. But in 2000, it became a movie theater again, showing "second run" films, which are movies that have already been shown in bigger cinemas. The theater also faced damage during the 2011 Souris River flood, but it has continued to be a part of the community.
