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| Harvey County West Park |
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| Highlights |
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| Old-fashioned country park along the Little Arkansas River. |
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| Description |
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| Harvey County West Park was developed in the 1930’s and 40’s along the northern edge of the Little Arkansas River. The park is approximately 310 acres in the sandhills of Kansas. This heavily wooded park offers excellent birding opportunities among its natural setting. There is a 16-acre fishing lake within the park that is stocked every year. Several recreational opportunities are available such as camping, hiking, wildlife viewing, fishing, swimming, and recreational sports. |
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| Site Access/Ownership |
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| Harvey County owns and manages the park. If you have any additional questions call them at (316) 835-3189.
Park fees are charged for fishing, camping, and boating. Go to this website to review the fees http://www.infonewtonks.org/tourism/camp.htm |
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| Birds/Birding |
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Several species of songbirds, woodpeckers, and owls live in the riparian woodlands. If you are staying the night at the park you will probably hear the hooting calls of Eastern Screech and Barred Owls. Birds of prey soar in the sky or perch on tree branches. Turkey Vultures, Red-tailed Hawks, and Northern Harriers are commonly seen most of the year. Also watch for Mississippi Kites and Cooper’s Hawks.
Knocking on the trees or letting out loud chattering calls are woodpecker species such as Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Northern Flickers, Red-headed, Red-bellied, Downy, and Hairy. Songbird species vary from season to season, but some are fairly common most of the year. These species include Northern Cardinals, Blue jays, Kingbirds, Meadowlarks, White-breasted Nuthatches, Black-capped Chickadees, Tufted Titmouse, Eastern Bluebirds, Carolina Wrens, Red-winged Blackbirds, and American Goldfinches.
During migration season warblers, vireos, grosbeaks, and thrushes find refuge in the trees to rest from their long journeys. Watch for warbler species such as Common Yellowthroat, Northern Parula, Ovenbird, Louisiana Waterthrush, Black-and-white, Blue-winged, Black-throated Green, Magnolia, and Orange-crowned. Bell’s, Warbling, and Red-eyed Vireos arrive in the spring and stay through the summer. Vireos that migrate through include White-eyed, Blue-headed, and Philadelphia. Rose-breasted and Black-headed Grosbeaks pass through the area during migration season while Blue Grosbeaks stay for the summer.
The warmer weather brings several more songbird species to the area, among these species are Indigo Buntings, Baltimore Orioles, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Gray Catbirds, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Summer Tanagers, Eastern Phoebes, Great-crested Flycatchers, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Grasshopper Sparrows, Lark Sparrows, and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers.
The lake and the river attracts swallows beginning in the spring. Look for swallow species such as Purple Martins, Tree, Northern Rough-winged, Bank, Cliff, and Barn. Waterfowl, shorebirds, and wading birds may also be attracted to the lake and river. Wood Ducks, Mallard Ducks, Pied-billed Grebes, and American Coots may all be seen during the summer. Great Blue Herons are very common to see year round. Green Herons, Least Bitterns, and American Bitterns may be present in the summer.
For a birding checklist for Harvey County go to http://www.ksbirds.org/checklist/checklist_index.htm and click on Harvey Co. |
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| Wildlife/Sounds |
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Common Kansas wildlife includes White-tailed Deer, Coyotes, Beavers, Muskrats, Woodrats, Raccoons, Striped Skunks, and Opossums. Bobcats and Red Fox are common, but are rarely seen. During the warmer months bats find refuge throughout the state of Kansas. Big Brown bats are the most common. Other bat species include Hoary, Red, Evening, and Brazilian Free-tailed. Bats are harmless to humans and help us by eating pesky insects like mosquitoes.
Several different species of reptiles and amphibians are attracted to the lake and surrounding area. During the warm months of late spring, summer, and early fall a symphony of frog, toad, and insect calls fill the air in the evening hours. Some of the species performing in this symphony includes American Toads, Great Plains Toads, Cope’s Gray Treefrogs, Eastern Gray Treefrogs, Western Chorus Frogs, Great Plains Narrowmouth Toads, Bullfrogs, and Plains Leopard Frogs.
In moist dark areas salamanders find refuge. The Barred Tiger Salamander is the state amphibian and is common throughout most of the state. Other salamanders that are present in Kansas are Eastern Newts, Common Mudpuppies, and Grotto Salamaders. Turtles can be seen both on land and in the water. The Ornate box turtle and Eastern box turtle are both land dwellers. Aquatic turtles include Common Snapping, Painted, Map, Musk, and Smooth and Spiny Softshells. Look for these species sunning themselves on rocks or logs in and around the water.
In rocky areas you may get to see a Collared lizard, which display beautiful shades of turquois, yellow, green, and possibly even orange. Other lizards of Kansas include Prairie lizards, Five-lined skinks, Great Plains skinks, and Six-lined Racerunners. Both venomous and non-venomous snakes are present. Watch out for Copperheads, Cottonmouths, Massasauga, and Timber Rattlesnakes. If the snake you see does not have pits or a triangular shaped head then you don’t have to fear them. There are several non-venomous snakes in Kansas that are quite beautiful, but often overlooked as being harmful. Water snakes include Plainbelly, Diamondback, and Northern. If you see a snake in the water that is not an olive green to gray color it is probably one of these species. Land dwelling snakes include Western Ribbon, Common Garter, Ringneck, Kingsnakes, Rat snakes, Gopher, and Hognose snakes. |
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| Flora |
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The landscape is mainly riparian woodlands surrounded by sand dunes covered in prairie flora. A variety of grass and wildflower species prefer the sandy soil. Grass species sway in the wind such as Bluestem, Sand Dropseed, Sand Lovegrass, and Sandbur. Mixed within these grasses are several species of wildflowers, which bloom from spring to fall. Look for wildflower species such as Butterfly Milkweed, Sunflowers, Pitcher Sage, Crown Vetch, Rayless Gaillardia, Heath Aster, Whorled Milkweed, Carolina Puccoon, and Maximilian Sunflowers. Yuccas, Prickly-pear Cacti, and Sandhill Plums are also found across the landscape.
Growing in the riparian woodlands are several species of Kansas hardwoods. Common Kansas hardwood trees include Eastern Cottonwoods, American Sycamores, Hackberries, Mulberries, Elms, Maples, Oaks, Basswood, Honeylocust, Redbuds, Russian Olives, Pecans, Hickories, and Black Walnuts. Patches of Rough-leaf Dogwood and Smooth Sumac are very common. |
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| Recreation |
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Hiking, picnicking, wildlife viewing, fishing, camping, swimming, and sports are the recreation opportunities available at this park. Camping is allowed, but you have to obtain a permit first. Camping pads with electrical hookups are available. 2 hiking trails meander around the natural flora of the park. The Lakeside Nature Trail is a mile long loop, and the mowed interpretive trails are 2 miles long with 3 loops.
Facilities available at the park include picnic tables, shelters, and pit toilets. A swimming beach is also available for park visitors. For those that enjoy sports there is a softball diamond and a sand volleyball court available for public use. |
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| Directions/Maps |
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| To reach Harvey County park from I-35 in Newton, travel 14 miles west on US 50 to River Park Road (Harvey County Road 793) and turn north. Go 3 miles to NW 24th (Harvey County Road 566). The park entrance is about 0.8 miles east on the north side of the road. |
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| Other Sources of Information |
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| Newton Convention & Visitors Bureau 1-800-899-0455 or (316) 283-7555. |
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| Attractions |
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In June Harvey County hosts an annual Bluegrass Festival at Harvey County West Park. Call the Newton Convention and Visitors Bureau for more information.
Newton offers visitors historical and modern attractions, great restaurants, and places to stay the night. A wonderful museum to visit is the Kauffman Museum which is located at Bethel College at 27th and Main. The museum showcases the story of the European Mennonites which traveled here in the 1870’s. The Mennonites encountered the pristine prairie environment and the people that already lived out here. Award winning exhibits preserve the history of the plains. The Kauffman Museum is open Tuesday-Friday from 9:30-4:30 and 1:30-4:30 Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $1 for children ages 6-16 and adults are $2. For more information call the museum at (316) 283-1612.
Newton Station was built in 1930. The station housed the Fred Harvey Restaurant and a second floor dormitory for the waitresses known as the “Harvey Girls.” The station now has several professional offices in it. The Warkentin House is a 16 room Victorian house which is now a museum. For more information about the museum call (316) 283-3113. Newton also has an outlet mall just off of I-35.
If you want to stay the night there are a few bed and breakfasts to choose from. The Old Parsonage Bed and Breakfast is located at 330 E. Fourth St., (316) 283-6808. Hawk House Bed and Breakfast Inn is located at 307 W. Broadway, (316) 283-2045. The Harrison House is located at 115 Harrison, (316) 283-6865.
Newton has several places to eat from nice restaurants to fast food. The Old Mill Restaurant is located at 301 N. Main, (316) 283-3510. Acapulco Restaurant is located at 707 N. Main, (316) 283-6026. Texas Red’s BBQ is located at 1801 N. Main, (316) 283-5000. |
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| Links |
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http://www.naturalkansas.org/harvey.htm
http://www.infonewtonks.org/tourism/camp.htm
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