MKE CO PARKS: Menomonee River Parkway & Hoyt Park

For our morning walk yesterday, we went to the Menomonee River Parkway since it's not far from our house. Keeley's grandma came with us so that I could take pictures. That was really nice of her.
Keeley left some pee mail so that other dogs will know that he was here.
We've been taking Keeley for walks at the parkway since he was just a wee pup.
This is my favorite tree along the parkway. I think it's got a good shape to it.
Keeley sure is cute with his ears flapping while he runs. This parkway is part of the Oak Leaf Recreational Trail that connect all our major parks together.
That's the Menomonee River. We've been getting a lot of rain storms lately so the river is really high right now.
On the other side of the river is Hoyt Park. It's 20.48 acres in size.
Keeley decided that he was going to lead us on a trail along the river even though it's a bit muddy today.
It sure is pretty now that everything is getting green.
Oh boy! Keeley found some ducks sitting along the river edge. His grandma had to hold him back. Look at him pull!
The ducks hopped in the river and paddled over to the bank on the other side.
Keeley was wondering how he'll be able to get them now.
This is a pretty river but I think this past winter was hard on it. There's lots of erosion happening. Trees are falling into the river and some trails are being washed away.
Hoyt Park also has a playground and a sand volleyball area.
This is the old Hoyt pool. When I was in middle school, I'd come to the pool with my friends almost every week in the summer. It's been closed since 2003 because of some kind of structural problem that is too expensive for the county to fix. But there's an organization called Friends of Hoyt Park & Pool that is trying to raise money for a new pool.
I love the bright green color of the tree leaves in the springtime.
There are more trails behind the old pool.
This bridge was built in the 1930's with new deal labor.
Crossing this bridge we leave Hoyt Park and are back on the parkway side of the river.
Not a bad 45 minute walk.

Irish Dog Irish Music

We were surprised to find there was a free concert of Irish music in the parkway during Keeley's evening walk. Keeley was fascinated by it. Instead of turning at the bridge, Keeley decided that he wanted to go check it out. He got to meet a lot of kids with the same hair color as him. And he got to meet a couple of dogs too.
Keeley is so used to being the center of attention, that he couldn't understand why all the full-sized humans were all standing with their backs to him and why they didn't seem at all interested in meeting him. I tried to explain to him that they were watching the stage but I don't think he got it.

Keeley found a toad at the parkway

While Keeley was marking a tree, he noticed something move. It was a toad! This was something new that Keeley had never seen before. Keeley would hit it with his paw and the toad would hop. So he would hit it again and the toad would hop again. This went on for several hops. Then Keeley tried to pick up the toad in his mouth, at which point the dad (Keeley's grandpa)stepped in. He picked up the toad and threw it into the river. It's a good thing that the dad was there. I didn't think there was anything wrong with letting Keeley have the toad so I would have let it continue. The dad said that he didn't think it was a good idea because toads excrete toxins. So I looked it up and this is what I found on www.doctordog.com:
"Toad Poisoning - Since all toads have a bad taste, dogs who mouth them slobber, spit and drool. In southern states a tropical toad (Bujo marinus) secretes a potent toxin that appears to affect the heart and circulation of dogs, bringing on death in as short a time as fifteen minutes. Symptoms in dogs depend upon the toxicity of the toad and the amount of poison absorbed. Signs vary from merely slobbering to convulsions and death. Treatment: Flush your dog's mouth out with a garden hose and attempt to induce vomiting. Be prepared to administer artificial respiration."
So I have to give the dad credit for this one. He made the right call. Thanks to the dad, Keeley never did get the toad into his mouth and enjoyed the rest of his evening walk toadfree.