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J durhamregion.com THE CANADIAN STATESMAN ♦ August 23,2006 ♦ Page A7 A Clarington Community A weekly in-depth look at the communities that shape Clarington Making a splash in Cedar Park Clarington's answer to Wonderland found in Hampton BY JULIE CASHIN-OSTER ' Special to The Statesman ■ HAMPTON As the summer winds 1 down and holidays come to an end there is still lots of life left at Cedar Park -- Clarington's answer to Wonderland. Located near the village of Hampton, Cedar Park has been in the Jukic Family Family since 1966 but the pool was actually installed in 1955 by an 88-year-old cattle trader. "We kicked the park up in 1966. Cle- . ments (the cattle trader) sold it after a : few years, to an Oshawa businessman, who let it go. It was then closed for three years and fell into disrepair," said Harold Jukic, owner of Cedar Park along with his brother Ron. A lot of changes have taken place over the past 40 years after the Jukic's cleaned up the park. One of the attractions - a surprise to Mr. Jukic - is the high diving board. ■ "We actually lowered it two and a half feet, but there is always a lineup for the diving board. Kids are always asking, : is the diving board open. There doesn't seem to be any around anymore" he said. This will be;the seventh year for the . waterslides, which are expensive to put in. • and you don't see them around anymore. There aren't any new pools going in and many are closing down, he added. A unique feature of Cedar Park is you can actually drive up to.a picnic table, unload your car and go swimming. It's a unique place for family reunions and ' special events. : : "Lots of places don't let you bring food in and you have to park far away," he said. "Our focus here is young families. A ■ lot of people support us. We see the same families - parents who brought their kids , are now bringing grandchildren." Cedar Park is a safe environment for families. There is no alcohol or pets allowed at the park. Costs are kept down ■to keep it affordable. Located in Durham Region, the park is in a central location and is visited by more people outside the area. . "We are seeing a lot of people from Belleville, Belleville, Port Hope, Lindsay, Peterborough and Toronto. One woman told me she took her son to Ontario Place and with e . Jr b " HlV4 oiiut.j again aim again and again. The park also had miniature golf, games and lots of swimming the huge lineups he got to go down the waterslide twice. And it was a hassle to get there." ' . ■ • : Situated within the picnic grounds the water park, is conveniently accessible, from anywhere in the park. The water park consists of a large bowl-shaped swimming pool with a shallow end and a deep end and measures 110 feet long by 66 feet wide. Adjoining the large swimming pool is the. children's water iiu _ u ovi vivvu vau play area. TTie children s water play area area. Thirty years ago it was all seasonal, consists of two splash pools that measure but now mostly weekend camping. 10 inches deep and one that measures 3.5 "You see a lot more trailers parked in feet deep. All guests who have paid the• farmers' fields.and driveways, costs are general admittance fee are allowed access high, people just take it (trailer) out for to the large swimming pool and children's ; the weekend." ' water play area. ■ 1 Need a break from swimming? Bring The three large water slides adjoin the your tennis gear. There is one tennis court large swimming pool and the children's available to all paying guests on a first- water play area but must be accessed /'. come, first serve basis.' There is no fee through a separate entrance. All guests who wish to ride the large water slides must first purchase a valid Cedar Park resort water slide wrist band from the mini-golf booth. At any given time there are a minimum of 10 lifeguards on duty. The water park is open 10 weeks of the year and the camping camping area from March to December. After Labour Day, cleanup and repairs begin. Cedar Park also has a serviced camping Three-year-old Aliyah Baldwin and Chrysfal Russell decided to give the three-legged race a shot, rather unsuccessfully though, but fun nonetheless at a picnic they were enjoying at the park. for use of the tennis court however guests must have their own equipment. How about a round of mini-golf? Laid out among several mature spruce and birch trees and colorful gardens the par 46, 18-hole mini-golf course features unique obstacles and ornaments that provide provide players with both entertainment and a'change of scenery. A place for everyone, Cedar Park Resort will continue to operate everyday until Sept. 4. Pools are open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Park hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, visit www. cedarparkresort.ca or call 905-263-8109. Look back at the early days Mill dates back to 1841 BY CATHERINE VIVIAN Special to The Statesman HAMPTON - Hampton began as a mill town in 1841. Twelve United Empire Loyalist families populated the settlement. As well, a tribe of Missisauga Indians also lived in the area. Elliot's Grist Mill opened in 1842 and started a brisk business. Within 10 years the settlement had grown to include 20 businesses businesses including a tanner, a cooper, a blacksmith, two more mills. Scuggog Road, originally little more a trail through the woods, was now a cleared road with a toll system placed on it to pay for the upkeep. In 1851 Elliot's Mill burnt to the ground and was rebuilt just to the south of its original location. Other businesses have come and gone but one that has prospered is Cedar Park. One hundred and four years after, the first, business began in Hampton, 88- year-old FJ. Clemons started what' was to become a major tourist attraction in the municipality of Clarington. Cedar Park has been part of the local community for 51 years. As with most, places Hampton was experiencing an economic boon after the end of the Second World War. The positive postwar feelings made the timing perfect when the park opened on June 11, 1955. The cement pool was built by Walter Sche- liss requiring 1,200 bags of cement. The nearby creek, then as now, filled the pool. On 30 acres of land the park boasts mini golf, tennis courts, a snack bar, full Water Park, and camping. It is owned and operated by the Jukic family. v i, ; |: •;«; : f' ||? -n !■ jgsssJ J : * To advertise in this feature contact Ihe This Week Inside Sales to 905-579-4400