Historic Yates Mill County Park Debuts 'Gone Fishin' Holiday Tree

12/13/2006

Historic Yates Mill County Park is uniquely decked out for the holidays this year. Rescued fishing tackle adorns a small Fraser fir tree in the park’s A.E. Finley Center for Education and Research, 4620 Lake Wheeler Road in Raleigh, and brings out the desire to go fishin’!

Park visitors often leave behind fishing tackle, posing a danger to the pond’s wildlife, and negatively impacting the park’s aesthetics; therefore, park staff clean the pond about three times a month and always dredge up bobbers, lures and fishing line. These items, normally kept in a box of lost-and-found fishing tackle at the front desk, have now been put to use for something other than catching a "big lunker."

A tree is decorated with this fishing tackle, along with a few new items that complement the fishing theme. Park visitors are encouraged to come by after December 25 to choose one item off the tree from Yates Mill’s recycled fishing collection, so that the rescued tackle can be reused for its intended purpose.

If you would like to go fishing on the millpond, please note that fishing is allowed only from the two park boardwalks – bank fishing is prohibited. The park grounds are open from 8:00 a.m. to sunset, 361 days per year. The Finley Center is open from 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m., seven days a week. The park is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

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