COOL DOWN AT THESE WATER ACTIVITIES IN KENORA!

Norman Beach Park has always been a great place to hang out in Kenora, Ontario. You can swim in Lake of the Woods, sit on the grass and watch the variety of boats go by, play on the playground or have a picnic in the covered shelter area. The Lake of the Woods Railroaders Museum and Dairy Queen, which is great for a snack on a hot day anytime are close by.

Two new water play areas have opened up in 2019. The Kenora Rotary Splash Park and Hoopla Island.

Rotary Splash Park 

The Kenora Rotary Splash Pad is an awesome addition to Norman Park and Kenora. Children young and old have been loving the water features! There are many water spouts as well as a huge bucket that periodically dumps water, much to the delight of many. For toddlers, one end of the pad has softer, lower spouts. Washrooms and change rooms are available at the beach which can be accessed by a short, accessible pathway through the forest. The Rotary Splash Pad is free to use and is accessible to all! It is open from mid-May to mid-September from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm.

For many, the water bucket is the highlight of the splash park. Photo: Rotarian Anne Anderson

The Kenora Rotary Club wanted to make a big splash for its centennial project. And what a splash indeed! Funding came from a $150,000 Trillium Foundation grant, grants from the Kenora and Lake of the Woods Community Foundation, and donations from community businesses and private citizens. The Rotary Splash Park is the Rotary Club of Kenora's Centennial Project representing 100 years of serving Kenora. It is Rotary's way of giving to the community for all the support our community has given to Rotary.

Hoopla Island  

Hoopla Island, Kenora's all-new Aquatic Sports Park, is located just to the left of Norman Beach. Try out the many jumps, slides, climbing wall, swing, trampoline, and more! Spend an hour or buy a day pass. Lifejackets are supplied and must be worn at all times. Great for ages 6-99. Children ages 6-8 must be accompanied by an adult. Open until the beginning of September daily (depending on the weather) from 11:00 am-7:00 pm.

Whether you do one activity or them all, the Norman Park and area has so much to offer. Go swimming at the beach, have fun on Hoopla Island, cool off at the Rotary Splash Pad, get a treat at Dairy Queen, watch a variety of boats go by, play on the playground or have a picnic.

The Lake of the Woods Railroaders Museum, engine and caboose are interesting to take a look at. The museum has limited hours. They are open Wednesday to Sunday noon to 6:00 pm, with the model railway layout operational from 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm on those days. The caboose, which depicts the cramped quarters of the railway workers, is open to the public from 11:00 am - 7:00 pm Wednesday to Sunday and noon - 4:00 pm on Monday and Tuesday. You can also walk to the Discovery Centre through a short path to the west.

There’s so much to choose from at Norman Park!