Generally relegated to the young and the elderly, suburban parks are not sought out by your average naturalist. Nevertheless, they can be pleasant and "productive" destinations, especially if they were established many years ago and are festooned with large trees, ponds and wetlands.
Today, my wife and I stopped by William McKinley Carson Park in Greenwood Village, a community in south Metro Denver. Hoping to escape the heat and bright sunshine, we were also planning to take a short walk. This small park proved to be a good choice, though some construction was underway. Shady gazebos afford views of the pond and the paved trails are lined with large trees. During our brief visit, we observed the expected flocks of mallards and Canada geese but also encountered an excellent variety of songbirds (chipping sparrows were especially common); we also saw two muskrats on the pond.
Good for the community and good for local wildlife, older suburban parks are gems that may not be replicated in modern society as land prices rise and residential demands crowd out nature. Even if established, they take many years to mature.
