Recreation

Recreation. . , The area just north of this point was originally an island and the east branch of the river. When the earth dam forming the base of Duke Street was built, the east branch of the river became a bay which was used for swimming. Later a small Hall called the Youth Centre was built on the island and with development of the arena on its present site after World War II, this became the major recreation area of the town. The bay north of Duke Street was gradually filled and a swimming area was fenced off on the south side of Duke in the spot occupied by this park, with a wading pool remaining on the north side of Duke Street. , In the 20’s, wooden boats with inboard engines were fashionable and these were kept in boat houses , small garage-like structures built out from the shore. The shore of the river from this point south was lined with dozens of closely spaced boat houses. , In the mid 60’s a new outdoor pool was built elsewhere in the town and swimming on the river was banned, the Youth Centre burned down, the town began a concerted effort to get rid of the boat houses which were obsoleted by modern outboards and becoming dilapidated, recreational use of the river disappeared, and Dryden turned completely away from its water front for the first time in its history.