MacNaughton Park a small gem on Exeter's main street

Visitors may only glance at Exeter’s MacNaughton Park as they first drive by, but that’s their first mistake. A labour of love for a community, the park is a place anyone would love to stop and visit and connect with nature.

It was in the 1980s when the local Lions Club pitched the idea of turning a simple flat parkland located on Hwy 4, north of the downtown core, into a beautifully landscaped area for recreation or relaxation. Once the plan was accepted, a landscape architect was consulted and a plan completed.

Like a large nursery, MacNaughton Park is a showplace for horticulturists. The park is comprised of a number of display gardens. Brick walkways, bearing the names of supporters, wend their way through the picturesque design. A gazebo, the focal point from the highway is a quiet place to sit and read a book or just relax, while an arbour offers another intimate area in which to sit and take in the lovely colours.

The park is not just a summer stop, but attracts attention in the winter with thousands of sparkling lights put up for Christmas.

With its gazebo, benches and flowers MacNaughton Park is an eye-catching addition to the well-maintained retail section of Exeter. It’s also now linked to the Morrison Dam Conservation Area east of town by the MacNaughton-Morrison Trail.