Fullarton CA
- Open to Public: Yes
- Size: 35 ha (87 acres)
- Entry Fee: None
- Permitted Activities: Hiking, dogs-on-leash, fishing, canoeing in pond, picnicking (all other activities prohibited)
- Facilities: Picnic tables, pavilion, benches, small parking lot, trails
- Address: 2999 Perth Rd 163A (no winter road maintenance), Fullarton, next to Fullarton Baseball diamonds
- Managers: Municipality of West Perth
- Trails: 1.5 km foot trail
- Links: West Perth
The Fullarton Conservation Area is a lovely day-use area on the North Thames River a few kilometres south (downstream) of Mitchell. The main features are a small dam, pond, foot trails through reforested areas, and a picnic pavilion. The dam is a small earthen berm with a drop inlet structure that releases water downstream.
The two colour-coded loop trails are shown on the trail map posted at the picnic pavilion. The blue trail (0.9-km) goes across the dam and through the wetland bordering the pond. Cattails, milkweeds, Joe-Pye Weed, jewelweeds, and goldenrods fringe the pond. Great Blue Herons are commonly seen fishing. The trail then leads on through bush, old field and orchard, and pine plantation back to the dam. There are benches for sitting and enjoying the view. The red trail (0.6 km) goes along a wide mowed grass path on the opposite side of the pond, an area that attracts frogs. It then leads through mixed deciduous and pine woods, ending at the ball field.
History
The land for Fullarton CA was purchased in 1953 from the Alonzo Hart estate. It contained an attractive trout stream. In 1955 an earthen dam was built (nine feet high and 300 feet long), creating a 5 acre pond on the stream. Fullarton Township and the County of Perth assisted in the development plan. In 1962 the Authority acquired another 5.5 acres of land across from the CA from the County for use as a roadside park. In 1964 the Authority leased four acres to Fullarton Township, under a 99-year lease, for the creation of a recreation centre as a Centennial project. The centre (baseball diamonds, etc.) was officially opened on June 25, 1966.
