The Lion's Park on Station Street in Belleville, Ontario is testament to how well nature and mankind can work together to create a place of halcyon peace and beauty.
It encompasses part of the Riverfront Trail and a visit there will stimulate so many of your senses, you'll want to visit again and again.
The park has a different and more lush feel this year
than last, due to the immense amount of rain we've been experiencing this summer.
This year, unlike last, the river is rushing rapidly downstream.
Last year many sections were completely dry.
To see the difference between last year and this, make sure and view the pictures at the bottom of this post which show the same view of the Moira River taken in August '07 and August '08.
Poet Hannah Moore once wrote "all the peace which springs, from the large aggregate of little things" and nothing is a more fitting description of Belleville's beautiful Lion's Park which rests serenely on the shores of the Moira River in Belleville.
The park was built by the Lion's Club of Belleville as a part of the beautification of the Moira River Riverfront Trail that meanders through Belleville.
There are quiet benches hidden in peaceful corners amongst the gardens where a visitor may take in the surrounding beauty while listening to the sounds of the river as it makes it's way towards the Bay of Quinte.
A beautiful pergola is the centrepiece of the park.
Vibrant gardens surrounding it lend privacy and a peaceful feeling to those who stop to rest on one of the strategically placed benches to be found within the courtyard.
Built into the banks of the old Moira River, the site lends itself to beautiful, terraced, limestone rock gardens and many levels.
Wayne Wallans memorial at Belleville Lion's Park.
The pedestrian bridge connects the south and north sides of the Moira River and is well used by bikers, rollerbladers, walkers and runners.
Fishermen/women also love to try their hand at fishing from the bridge.
The gardens and walkways overflow with a myriad of flowers and beautiful trees to delight your senses.
An Ontario native wildflower, Purple Coneflower (Echinacea), is widely known for it's medicinal uses in boosting the immune system.
Colourful Daylillies, one of my favourite perennials for northern gardening, may be found sprinkled here and there amongst the walkway gardens.
A lone Red Hot Poker (Torch Lily) catches the eye in all it's glory.
Stately White Coneflowers lend their unique beauty to the cacaphony of riotous colour.
Pink Hydrangeas quietly ask you to pause for awhile.
Friends take respite from the day on sun-baked limestone in the Moira River.
A waterfront park would not be complete without a gull standing watch over all the comings and goings.
The inner courtyard of the Lion's Park pergola. Pinnacle Street Bridge over the Moira River in the distance.
The Moira River is once again mighty with the abundant rains we've been experiencing this summer. Compare this photo, taken recently (August '08) with the one below taken the same time last year when we were in a drought situation.

The Moira River in August 2007. A lack of rain saw the river almost completely dry up. Quite a difference from the extensive rainfall we've been experiencing in 2008.
The Lion's Park in Belleville can be found by taking the Highway 62 south exit off the trans-Canada (Hwy 401) into Belleville. Travel south along Hwy 62, which is known as North Front Street where it runs through Belleville, and take a left onto Station Street after you go over the Moira River bridge. The Lion's Park can be seen just past Meyer's historic mill on your left.
Enjoy your visit!
©2008JoSmith
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Jo-Anne Smith, the author of this article, is a REALTOR® with Royal Lepage ProAlliance Realty, Brokerage, in Belleville, Ontario and welcomes your real estate inquiries. To contact her, visit www.QuinteRegionRealEstate.com |
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Jo-Anne Smith, the author of this article, is a REALTOR® with Your Choice Realty , Mississauga, Ontario and welcomes your real estate inquiries. To contact her, visit www.oakville-burlingtonhomes.com |

Exquisite photos Jo and I love the pedestrian bridge too. The Lions Club Park is not only scenic but it looks very restful as well.
Beautiful pictures Jo! That's a lovely park and so peaceful looking.
That park looks gorgeous Jo! When did you find a sunny day? LOL Perfect shots!
Lions Park is beautiful and your pictures are INCREDIBLE!! I especially like the bird pictures!!
Hi Jo Anne,
Oh my what a beautiful place, I just love parks myself. Your photos are absolutely spectacular, you've captured so much. It almost looks like a coffee table book, very well done!
Jo I was thinking of you this morning, and there is a post with a park bench. You are my forever friend.
Nature, peace, surrounding myself with all that lush vegetation and ambience; I would be right at home on that bench and would not move for hours, perhaps the whole day.
What a wonderful place to tune one self up, and calibrate what is really to be measured in life; the wonders of a majestic park.
You are absolutely a breath of fresh air,
Tombo
Hi Jo,
What a lovely park. Just the place to take a walk and clear the head and perhaps meditate.
Jo - In to-days world where many demand instantaneous results/gratification/satisfaction it pays to get off the expressways of life and take time to enjoy the little things. Like wise when traveling it pays to get off the expressways, get where you are going a little bit slower, and travel through the smaller cities, towns and communities that have so much to offer such as your Lions Park in Bellville.
Gary,
It's a very restful place with something for everyone...particularly it is a sight for stressed out souls and those who wish to re-connect with beauty and nature.
thanks for stopping by!
Jo
Sally~ It's so easy to get good pictures when you're working with beautiful subject matter such as this....truly a photographer's dream location.
thank you!
Jo
Joan,
Thank you! It was hard to find a sunny day...even the day I took these photos it started to cloud over and headed for home just in time to avoid another storm. ((-:
Jo
hi Marchel,
Thanks for stopping by and leaving such a nice comment! I love taking pictures of birds and other wildlife...o I plan to take a nature photography course before this year is over.
Jo
Good morning Lynda!
Thanks so much for visiting this post....I always enjoy your beautiful comments so much. Wouldn't it be wonderful to visit as many parks in the world as possible? ~And perhaps write a giant coffee table book about parks at the same time!?!
((-:
Jo
Hi Tombo!
The park benches in Belleville are wondering when you're going to make an appearance and enjoy the view they offer! I believe there's one very comfortable one overlooking the rippling water that has your name on it.
((-;
Jo
Hi Cynthia,
It is a nice place to stop by for a beak in the afternoon...always things to see there and a special kind of energy.
Jo