This past Saturday, Denver’s families came together at Overland Pond Park (OPP) for TGF’s final family event of the year, Family Fishing Day! To say it was a perfect Fall morning is an understatement, and I think that most who came by would agree. Overland Pond Park offers an escape from the city without ever leaving it. Interestingly enough, when the park was created in 1986, it was redesigned as a habit park for shared outdoor experiences and learning. Along with the pond itself, the banks are full with plants and trees native to Colorado as well as signs of animals.
Fishing Day could not have happened without the great volunteers from Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Lincoln Hills Cares. With the fishing season coming to a busy end, we were lucky enough to have three of LHC/CPW’s volunteers teach families how to assemble and use their poles. CPW generously donated these poles, giving every kiddo a free pole to take home with them.
In between fishing, families were able to stop by SPREE’s table filled with SPREE classics like ‘whose scat is that’, a beaver pelt, a trout crown craft and of course, candy prizes! In addition to the classics, CPW brought a fishing game which allowed kids to run through the do’s and don’ts of fishing.
We were also joined by Donny from the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI), who created a museum of live critters from the pond to teach kiddos as well as awareness and knowledge about Denver’s storm drains. It was great to see kids making positive connections with the park and the critters that live there.
With over 65 kiddos and adults in attendance and the support of CPW and Donny, it is safe to say that the event was a success! Thanks to everyone who stopped by. Tuna in next year for more fishing by the pond!
