Its All about Parks

Zimbabwe in the heart of Africa is a huge hit amongst tourists for its throbbing wildlife and its beautiful and natural experience. There is no better way of feeling the pulse of Zimbabwe’s natural beauty except by visiting its various natural parks. Here is a list of a few parks that must be on any tourist’s check – list.

Matobo National Park: The Park lies in the center of the Matobo Hills surrounded by forested valleys in Southern Zimbabwe. The park is high on its botanic diversity, from Paperbark trees to Wild Pear trees, there are around two hundred kinds of trees that are found within the park premises. Along with the flora, there are some rare animal species found here such as Antelopes and Leopards. The park is also perfect for Hikers and climbers and there are some dams where fishing can be carried out.

Victoria Falls National Park: This Park lies along the South and East bank of the Zambezi River and there is more than one reason to visit this park. The view of the Rainforest that grows around the spray of the water fall is breathtaking and has all kinds of plants like Ferns and Mahogany. Tourists will get a chance to view such animals like White Rhino, Antelope and Eland on safari drives. You may also get a rare chance to glimpse a crocodile in the river.

Hwange National Park: This Park is also located very close to the Victoria Falls and is also Zimbabwe’s largest hunting reserve. Whether you are interested in game or not, this is a trip to a park that you must take. With over a hundred different varieties of animal life to view the park is as good as you can get with an African Safari. The park’s population of Brown Hyenas and African Wild dogs is supposed to be the largest in Africa.

Kazuma Pan National Park: This Park is one of the rare places where the Scenery of the plain land of Africa can be viewed and enjoyed. The park is mainly a haven for the birds, but there are also species of animals such as the Giraffe and Cheetah to look out for.

Chizarira National Park: Lying in Northern Zimbabwe, this is one of the largest National Parks in the country. Located on the Zambezi escarpment, there is a vast range of vegetation to admire here.

The Portage Park in Chicago is one of the central meeting and leisure points for people in the community, to enjoy an evening stroll, a morning walk or a picnic out with the family. It happens to be one of the largest parks in Chicago and offers a wide array of recreational facilities which include six tennis courts and large playgrounds and paths for natural walks along the park. The park also consists of large soccer and baseball fields. A huge attraction is the area that houses the gymnasium and the cultural arts buildings. Senior citizens also enjoy here with fitness and aerobics classes to stay healthy.

The name of the area, The Portage Park Community Area is derived from the name of the Park itself, and not only this, the park also brought together the community that exists around it, by combining some far flung separate communities. The Park now is the center of all activities for the community, providing athletic and other team sports to be played on its open grounds and other cultural and club activities to be carried out in its special buildings.

Originally the Park had a dirt bottomed natural pond that then blended into a cement bottomed pool, the pond portion used to merge with the hill that existed on the Western side of the Park. In 1932 improvements began to be carried out in the Park. Additional plants were being planted to enhance the natural beauty of the place, fountains started to be constructed and Gateways were being put up. The Park authorities thus removed the original natural pool and replaced it with a kidney shaped pool made of concrete. Workers also renovated the long destructed Rock House that used to exist in the South end of the Park. This House also had its own Goldfish pond and pretty flower patches.

In 1959 further improvements were made and the Kidney Pool was replaced by an Olympic Sized Pool. In 1972, with these facilities available, Portage Park had hosted the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials here. There is also an interactive marine play area that has been specially built for children to enjoy. In the summers therefore, the park is ideal for cooling off, with the pool and a large deck for sunning.

The Park is actually older than all the other buildings that are now around it.

If a list were to be made of the top public parks in America, the criteria would perhaps have to be the ones with the maximum visitors and the facilities each provides. Here is a list of five of such parks that attract quite some attention.

Central Park, New York: Not only is this park one of the most visited parks in the country, it has also been proclaimed to be a National Historical landmark. The park is replete with every kind of scenic and sporting facility required in a park, even though it is situated in the center of a literal concrete jungle, surrounded by sky scrapers on all sides. The park has everything, from beautiful ponds to joggers and bikers paths and dog runs. It also provides for an outdoor open air theatre and other such cultural activities.

Lincoln Park, Chicago: This Park dates back to 1843 and has now been given the place of a National Historical place. It is Chicago’s largest park and has up to fifteen baseball courts and plenty of soccer fields and tennis courts to go along with it. There is also a very well maintained golf course to suit other tastes along with a fitness center. The park however is perhaps best known for its very own zoo. The zoo is interactive, where children are allowed to play with and feed pigs and horses etc.

South Mountain Park, Arizona: This Park is the largest city park in America. The park is best known for preserving a mountainous area in its natural state along with its original desert vegetation. It boasts of several trails for horse riding and also for hikers. There is also a landmark Mystery Castle located in the Park.

Griffith Park, Los Angeles: The Park is a municipal park and happens to be one of the largest in the whole North America. There are some very grand features that the park boasts of such as an eighteen hole golf course and a miniature railroad, along with vast baseball fields and hiking trails.

Balboa Park, San Diego: This is one of the oldest places in America that has been dedicated for the sole purpose of serving as a recreational place for citizens. The park is not only an ideal place to experience vast spaces of nature; it also offers other facilities like museums, theaters and well maintained gardens.

Perhaps the most visited park in the United States is the Central Park in New York, and not only that, it has been a National Historical Landmark since 1963. If you want to experience an environment of natural beauty in the middle of one of the most bustling and urban cities in the world this is the place to come to.

Even though most of the park looks natural, it is actually mostly landscaped and designed. It contains some very beautiful relaxation points near the lakes and ponds which look perfectly natural. Stretching over an enormous area, the park contains some very well maintained walking tracks and dog runs, along with two very popular ice skating rinks. The park also boasts of its very own Central Park Zoo and a conservatory garden. Lovers of nature can find themselves lost in the vast acres of natural woods and a well protected wildlife sanctuary. The park also hosts an annual theatre festival, called the “Shakespeare in the park”. This is held in their own outdoor amphitheatre. Various sports can also be played on the park’s grounds, either informal or formal sporting competitions, it is open to all. There are also some quiet zones in the park, where one can spend some alone – time in leisure. There are also some playgrounds where children with their guardians can spend a day out. Operas are also held along with annual open air concerts. Central Park also has some landscaped glaciated rocks which is a great attraction for climbers.

The park boasts of its natural habitat for a host of wildlife species. However, the park is most popular among bird watchers, as its ponds and woods is a major attraction for a wide variety of migrating birds, especially during the spring or the fall. Almost two hundred different kinds of birds can be spotted inside the park premises on any given day during such a season.

There are some interesting ways in which the entire park can be viewed. Carriages, which are a symbolic institution of the city, are frequently used by visitors to travel around the park. However, their use has recently come into a lot of scrutiny because of animal activists who claim of inhumane treatment of the horses. Besides this, the use of Pedi cabs is also a great way of viewing the whole park.

The rush of the city life in New York can get jostling for most. For a heart-to-heart with nature and one of the prettiest sights that the city has to offer, one can take a walk down the Hudson River. What can be even more of a treat is a walk through the Hudson River Park, alongside the river, enjoying the beauty of the river and the serenity of nature.

The park is mostly famous for the different recreational facilities that it provides, which includes organized sporting events or leisure activities and even fun activities for children to enjoy. The best feature about the Park is its long, almost five mile bike riding pathway that run’s along the whole length of the park.  There is also a similar path for runners and other pedestrians.

The Park is thus ideal for spending a day released from the usual daily grind. The park is scattered with a range of courts and fields for different kinds of sports to be enjoyed. The park boasts of its very own soccer field, basketball and tennis courts, children’s playgrounds, skating grounds and a dog run. The park also provides for recreational piers at the Watergates, here there are places to fish for free along with other activities such as rowing and building of boats. There is also a very active Water Taxi stop here. You could also bring your dog for a day out here, as near the pier there is one of the best dog-runs in the city, and also for those with an empty stomach, a restaurant to fill your appetite. On the roof of one of the Piers, the New York Trapeze School operates. The largest of all the sporting complexes inside the Hudson River Park, is the Chelsea Piers Sporting Complex, holding a vast range of athletic grounds. This includes an immensely popular batting cage, an ice skating rink, driving grounds, gymnastic floors and best of all – rock climbing spaces. The premises also include other outdoor activities such as boating facilities and casual restaurants. The Hudson River Park has a long time heritage connected to the river and in keeping with this; there are special piers where canoeing, sailing and kayaking opportunities are provided.

Lastly, for those looking for some non – athletic leisure, there are perfect open and grassy spaces for just lazing around and acquiring the perfect tan.

Montreal boasts of quite a number of different kinds of parks where the people of the city can enjoy a day out or even a sporting event or other recreational activities. The following is a list of some of the noteworthy parks in the city.

Mount Royal Park: This Park is one of Montreal’s largest open and green spaces. This place is almost always buzzing with activity throughout the year. There are a variety of facilities available to enjoy. There are lakes such as the Beaver Lake, a ski slope to practice on during the winter months and also other features such as a sculpture garden. There are various sporting and cultural activities that can be carried out here as well.

Cap Saint Jacques Nature Park: This Park is the largest park in Montreal where almost three quarters of the park is bordered mostly by water. The main features of the park is its beautiful sand beaches and an organic farm. This farm raises animals and grows organic farm produces. Since the park is abounding in Maple trees, there is a production house where visitors can watch the maple syrup being produced.

Jarry Park: Tennis courts, playgrounds and swimming pools are just some of the features that this park boasts about. The park is a favourite urban getaway for the cross cultural people who are residents of Montreal, and for them there is a peaceful environment of multicolored flower beds, fountains and serene ponds. There are also baseball diamonds built for the avid sport fans and dog runs for those who don’t want to leave their pets home.

Lafontaine Park: This is another popular urban park located in Montreal. Its best feature is its two linked ponds, its waterfall and its beautiful fountain. The park also consists of an open air theatre and a cultural arts center. During the summers the swimming pools become very popular and during the winter, people crowd to the ice skating rink. There are also various playing grounds and tennis courts for those interested in sports and for the regulars there is of course the walk paths and the Bike paths.

Maisonneuve Park:  There are several events that take place in the park during the year for which thousands of people from the city gather to attend it. It is also a place for relaxing with sporting fields and an ice skating rink.

One of the many reasons why Malaysia is such a popular tourist site is because the country is able to capture the true Asian spirit. There is no better way to experience this than by making a tour of the various kinds of parks that are maintained by the Malaysian government and thereby get a feel of the Asian climate and wildlife and terrain. These parks are entertaining and a perfect way to relax on your holiday.

Turtle Islands Park: This is one of the most different kind of National Reserve park and also one of the most beautiful, consisting of three islands including its surrounding coral reef and ocean. The Park is famous for its species of turtles like the Green Turtles and the Hawksbill Turtles which lay their eggs on these beaches.

Kinabalu National Park: This park located in Malay was one of the first established National Parks in Malaysia and was also designated the first Malaysia’s World Heritage Site. This park consists of flora and fauna that ranges over four climatic zones from lowlands to coniferous forests and alpine meadow vegetation. Its vast area allows for the existence of such an excellent example of biodiversity. The park is also home to the rare Kinabalu Giant Red Leech and the Kinabalu Giant Earthworm.

Crocker Range National Park: The Park was established in 1984 and covered the area of the Crocker Range, on Eastern Malaysia, located on the island of Borneo. The park consists both Hill and Montane types of forest cover with a wide variety of flora and fauna. The park is mostly well known for its population of primates which include Gibbons and the furry Tarsiers.

Pulau Tiga National Park: the area of the Park has been under protection as a forest reserve ever since 1933. This too is part of the Borneo Islands and it covers mostly ocean containing three islands. Even though most of the volcanic island is covered in dense forest, there is still some volcanic activity in the form of mud bubbling. There is a huge population of snakes found on these islands.

Tawau Hills National Park: The Park is famous for its volcanic landscape which is more or less inactive today. There are also some hot springs and spectacular waterfalls for tourists to enjoy. This park also has largely a rainforest vegetation featuring Oil Palm and Cacao Plantations.

An industrial park is usually refereed to that area of land or estate used for industrial development and other related activities.  They are usually located in close proximity to places where there are more than one communication and transportation methods available such as waterways, railroads and air transport.  The main reason for developing such industrial parks, is to concentrate and limit a particular industry to an area to reduce the costs associated with maintaining it and to attract businesses because of its convenience of accessibility and also to control the environmental and social impact by separating the industrial location from the urban and residential areas of a city or town.

Here is a list of some successfully running industrial parks.

Burnside, Canada: This is a major commercial and industrial park located in Burnside, Nova Scotia. It encompasses a large area including a vast area of hilly region. There is a vast variety of businesses that are carried out, mainly in the sector of communication, electronics, sales and other kinds of engineering. The park is mostly made up of small buildings, warehouses and shops. Because of the large inflow of business, there are also a small number of hotels that have developed here.

Pureland Industrial complex, USA: This industrial park is located in New Jersey in America. It was established in 1975 and is one of the largest industrial parks in the world. The Park basically has company offices and warehouses and other manufacturing facilities for the companies which operate within its premises. Such companies include Mitsubishi, Mercedes Benz, Home Depot and others.

Slough Trading Estate, England: This industrial park located in Berkshire was UK’s first industrial park. The park now boasts of a working population of nearly twenty thousand. There are over six hundred office buildings in the premises. The companies that operate from this industrial park include Electrolux, ICI paints, Mars Confectionary etc.

The Green Valley Industrial Park, Honduras:  This nearly five hundred acres of industrial park operates as a free trade zone in Central America. The main focus of the companies operating from here is on the apparel and textile industry. It is located very close to the largest port of Central America.

Electronics City, India: This Industrial park is a huge area located just outside Bangalore in India. It includes some of the leading names in the Technology industry such as Wipro, Infosys, Motorola and Satyam.

A Baseball park can be known by many different names such as Baseball stadium or Ball parks. It is the main venue where a game of baseball is played. It consists of the playing field along with the arrangement of spectators and audience around it. There is a vast number of types that a Baseball park can be designed in, these include – Wooden ballparks, Jewel ballparks, Indoor ballparks, Retro ballparks and Multi purpose ballparks. Here is a list of some of the current major league baseball parks in the games capital country, America.

Angels Stadium of Anaheim, Los Angeles:  It is a modern style ballpark. It is the home ballpark to the Los Angeles Major league Baseball team, Angels of Anaheim. It is the fourth oldest in America.

Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles: It is the third oldest baseball park and is the home park to the Los Angeles Dodger’s.

Yankee Stadium, New York: This stadium is located in the Bronx of the New York City area. It serves as the home ballpark for the New York Yankees. It is built on the modern ballpark design.

Nationals Park, Washington DC: This is the current home ballpark for the Washington Nationals. The U.S. Capitol can be viewed from the upper deck of its stadium.

AT & T Park, San Francisco: This is designed as an out door open air ball park. This is home to the San Francisco Giants.

Wrigley Field, Chicago: This serves as the home ballpark for the Chicago Cubs.

Citi Field, New York: This is designed in the conventional baseball park theme, home to the New York Mets.

Chase Field, Phoenix: Located in downtown Phoenix Arizona, this ballpark is the home park to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati: This ballpark located close to the Ohio River is home to the Cincinnati Reds.

Coors Field, Denver: This is the home ballpark for the Colorado Rockies. There is a special feature about the stadium, while all the seats are green in colour, the seats in the twentieth row are purple, and this is the mark for the city reaching the one mile elevation.

Miller Park, Milwaukee: Located in the state of Wisconsin, this ballpark is home to the Milwaukee Brewers. This park features North America’s only one that has a fan shaped roof which can open and close easily according to operation.

If you are a fan of escaping into nature with no human to bother you as you probe through the flora and the fauna around you, the Northeast Greenland National Park, may just be an ideal spot for a vacation. It not only gives you a reason to visit Greenland, a beautiful country in itself, but it also provides for good tales to take back home from the largest National Park in the world. It has also been declared to be an international biosphere reserve park.

Stretching over an area of 972,000 kilometers, the park is larger than over a hundred countries combined and covers the entire northeastern coastline and the interior parts of that section of Greenland. The large interiors of the park is part of the ice sheets of Greenland, so what you will see is nature surviving in bitter cold, however, there are also ice free parts of the park, located along the coast and also the northern section. The park was originally created in 1974 from the uninhabited area of Tunu in East in Greenland, but it was eventually expanded to the present size it boasts of in 1988 by including the area of Avannaa located on the North in Greenland.

Human population is practically non existent here. The last time it was studied in 1986, the local human population was counted to be only about forty people, although some locations were populated by local tribes to some extent during the summer months. The forty who actually lived constantly in the park were the ones who were responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the park and also participated at the mining exploration sites. However, many left and the number of humans in the park has thus reduced even more.

The beauty of this national park lies in its untouched animal life. It is estimated that at least five to fifteen thousand musk oxen, walruses and polar bears live inside the park; most of these can be spotted near the costal areas of the park. The place is also a great venue for some bird watching of the rare kind. There are all types of birds that breed here, from the Barnacle Geese to the Pink-footed Geese and the Snowy Owl and Great Northern Diver.

The park is the perfect example for a getaway into the wild and to experience nature in its rarest kind.