Gyro Park

Have you had a place in your life that was special?  A place where you have nothing but good memories?  Do you smile each time you think of the things that happened there?  There is a place in my hometown that, almost every kid that lived there, has been to.  It is called Gyro Park.

Now over the years Gyro has changed.  Between adding the pavilion, the change rooms, the new bathrooms, the monkey bars and the new pool addition, it has changed a lot.   This park is just below the hospital, and a place where most kids in town spend a great deal of their childhood.  The pool was made to accommodate from the youngest of children, to ones in their upper teens and everyone in between. 

There is a lookout, where you can see more than 75% of the city.  It is a great place to take pictures.  The air is clear and the panoramic view is not to be outdone.  The river below winds its way through the mountains and down the valley to the Columbia river.   You can clearly see Elephant Mountain across from the city, and downtown Nelson is completely visible.

Now for those of you that have never been to this part of the world, Gyro Park is built on the side of a mountain.  The lookout is up at the top of a cliff, and has a drop off of about 100 feet, maybe more, straight down to the road below.   I guess you could say we were lucky enough to be able to climb up and down the steep outcropping when we were kids.  Now there is wire encompassing the lookout and the ability to go over the edge is now gone.  It was a fast way to get downtown.  Fun too.  Weaving your way through the trees and brush on the steep side of the cliff.  We would climb up as well as down.  As kids, I think most of us were fearless.  Not so much anymore.  Now I think we were just crazy.  The thought of climbing that steep outcropping is nerve racking to say the least and we did it without a thought back then. 

It seems like you can see forever from up there.  The gardens are something as well.  Every flower and bush you can think of is there.  It is a perfect setting for the ultimate wedding photo.   Many have been married in the gardens and have had their photos taken after. 

It was the perfect place for our after grad party.  Or so we thought.  We snuck into the pool and had a ball until the police came by and sent us all packing.  Did not take long after they left, for us to end up back in the pool.  You see, as a teenager, I was sort of a quiet rebel.  I was somewhat of a wall flower, but did get into my share of trouble.  My best friend Judy, was usually not far ahead or behind me.  We did have a great time.  I remember trying to get her rambler airborne on the hill that ran beside the Dairy Queen.  We did get  all four tires to lift off the ground, and landing without anyone or thing being hurt.  Well maybe the car took a bit of a beating.  There were a few more clunks, bangs and rattles after the flight.

Judy's parents lived right across the street from Gyro, so needless to say, we spent a lot of time at the park.   In the summertime we would spend all day there in the pool, and then would have a great time at night.  There were so many paths throughout the park back then.  You could get yourself lost if you wanted to bad enough.  Great place for you to take your boyfriend or vise versa.   Lovers lane path was very busy in the 1960's and 70's and there were many of them.

Now the park has all sorts of things for kids to do.  The pool has been redone to allow small children an area to swim in.  There is a fountain at one end of the pool for the aesthetic touch.  Monkey bars and swings are still on the hill and the gardens are still as beautiful as ever.  I spent time there last summer with my nephews and family.  It is still a great place to go and just be.  I hope it lasts forever.  Gyro is a place that I make a point to go, every time I go home to visit.  It just makes me smile.