You've hit the Sweet Spot!
In this series, to run over the next few months, Journal reporters will share their favourite city places to hang out in the sweet summertime. Some places are exotic, some surprising, some are (literally) in our reporters' front yards, but all of them will give you a new appreciation for the city -- and maybe some new places to explore on your own.
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EDMONTON - In the middle of Edmonton's dusty downtown, the legislature is an oasis of summer relaxation.
The political hub at 10800 97th Avenue is also a very public space that draws a cross-section of people to its manicured grounds, family friendly pools and central location.
"It's probably the nicest grounds in Edmonton," says Sheila Ladouceur, a 32-year-old cook enjoying a rare Sunday afternoon without her daughters.
"If you like to watch people, like I do, it's the best place to be. All kinds come here."
The mother of two is reclined on a blanket on a grassy hill south of the legislature building, sipping bottled water and reading The Host by Twilight series author Stephanie Meyer.
On a narrow road above Ladouceur, parents push strollers, cyclists ride by, couples stroll hand-in-hand and sunbathers lounge on towels.
Down the hill in a wide open park, twentysomethings play soccer, football and Frisbee. Families eat picnic lunches and kids chase each other across the manicured lawn. People walk their dogs and pedestrians wander along a paved trail shaded by huge trees.
"There's a lot going on here," says Tyler Cadieux, 24, a welding inspector who likes to hang out in the park with his friends. "Everybody's always happy on a sunny day."
A few metres from Cadieux, some people are dancing and spinning poi, which are weighted balls on the ends of strings or chains twirled at high speeds from both hands. The poi dance originated in New Zealand among the Maori people and is a popular pastime outside the legislature.
Later in the afternoon, a drum circle starts at the south edge of the park, pounding out catchy rhythms.
To the north of the legislature building, a whiff of chlorine travels in the air from a spectacular fountain that shoots out streams in the shape of a dome. It's the only pool north of the legislature that's off-limits to swimmers. The nearby rectangular pool -- with water cascading over its wide, squared edges -- is a popular spot for flirty teenagers and young swimmers to splash around.
Further north, three wading pools are teeming with delighted children and their tag-along parents. Kids squirt each other with water pistols, play in the waterfalls and fountains, and hop across round stepping-stones.
Seven-year-old Sean Dziwenko sucks on a blue Popsicle as he takes a break in front of the large fountain. His nine-year-old sister, Megan Dziwenko, sits nearby snacking on a cup of tiny ice-cream balls called Popsicle Shots.
"I was playing in the water over there and I crawled under that bridge and made it to the other side," Megan says. "Then I was jumping from stone to stone and I was spraying my brother."
In a lawn chair, Nicole Gunter, 38, reads the book Marley and Me aloud to her four children. The mother who lives southeast of Sherwood Park says the legislature grounds are a pleasing place to spend a lazy day.
"We used to come here as teenagers to hang out," Gunter recalls.
For Randy Raposo, 26, the legislature grounds are the ultimate summer hangout spot.
"I've been coming here for 10 years," he says. "It's got a great diversity of people. They've got these giant open fields right downtown, which is pretty rare, and everyone can get to it. It's really relaxing if you just come down here by yourself."
asands@thejournal.canwest.com
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