Shakespeare CA
- Open to Public: Yes
- Size: 13 ha (32 acres)
- Entry Fee: None
- Permitted Activities: Hiking, fishing, canoeing, picnicking (all other activities prohibited)
- Facilities: Pavilion, picnic tables, benches, two small parking lots, boardwalk
- Address: 4137 Perth Road 107 and 4159 Perth Road 107, Perth East
- Managers: Optimist Club of Shakespeare
- Trails: 1 km loop around the pond
- Links: Perth County Tourism
Shakespeare Conservation Area (CA) is located 8 km east of Stratford and just north of the Village of Shakespeare. This small CA features a dam and pond, a pavilion and day use area, and a short woodland trail. The dam and pond are on a small tributary of the Avon River and the pond is popular with anglers. The dam is earthen with a drop inlet spillway that discharges water downstream via a pipe conduit.
Broad grassy lawns and several picnic tables are located near two parking lots, making it a great place for a family picnic. The woodland behind the pond contains a yellow-blazed loop trail that connects both parking lots. The trail is relatively flat but muddy in spots. The CA is maintained by the Optimist Club of Shakespeare.
The deciduous woodland is dominated by maples and beech, with some oak and ash. The trail also passes through a pine plantation and a marshy area where there is a boardwalk. Spring wildflowers such as Jack-in-the-pulpit abound and, later in the season, jewelweed, and asters bloom. At the pond, look for butterflies, dragonflies, turtles, frogs and families of ducks and geese. The eBird Perth website lists 119 bird species observed here including many migrating warblers in spring.
History
The UTRCA purchased this swamp property in North Easthope Township in 1952 from Harvey Lantz. An earthen dam and pond were created in the swamp the same year. A service building was erected and a pump installed in 1954. In the early days, this CA was used for swimming, skating, and sports car trials.
