On July 9th, 2020, my wife and I stopped and parked at the Jane Forrester Park, a facility located between Harbour Drive and South Front Street, in Belleville Ontario. We walked the Kiwanis Bayshore Trail to view the surrounding area that includes the George Street Boat Launch, Myers Pier where we could see many sail boats anchored at the marina, and the Bay Bridge Road (Highway 62) that crosses over to Prince Edward County. The Bayshore Trail is 2.5 km in length and borders the north shore of the Bay of Quinte. We walked by the Freestone Point boulder which commemorates the 70th anniversary of the Kiwanis Club of Belleville and the late RWG (Bob) Freestone, Past President of that club. The Park has many benches for users to sit and relax. Due to high concentration of the Canada Goose, unsightly droppings were everywhere along the trail, so you really had to be careful to avoid stepping in poop. That afternoon it was quiet and relaxing with a light breeze coming from the Bay of Quinty, and due to Covid-19 the trail was almost empty with nobody around. We took scenic photos in the park and we would recommend this relaxing stop to family and friends.

What a lovely gift the Kiwanis Bayshore Trail is - in any season! It's not only fun to walk (or run) some (or all) of it, it's great to be part of the intergenerational hubbub of roller-bladers, baby strollers, singles, couples, sunbathers, contemplative folk on benches, fisher folk, bird watchers, children on playground equipment...the list goes on. It truly is a place that makes you feel part of a rich (and healthy) community. (It's also nice to gaze down to it from a "bayside" hospital window - as a patient or a visitor - to watch the world go round!) I remember when it was just an idea in my father's Kiwanis Club many years ago. Not only did it come to fruition, it's been beautifully kept up for years. So it was particularly sad when the high waters overflowed the banks and rendered some of the trail unusable earlier this spring. It was still a great place to visit, but the trail was broken by flooded areas. I was pleased to see on my last visit (late summer) that much of what had been damaged had been restored and the place was as lovely as ever. Although I no longer live in Belleville, I visit often. No visit is complete without at least one drive through the Kiwanis Bayshore Trail - especially if there's time for a stop and saunter. Kudos to its caregivers! Your work is appreciated.