“I have been waiting for this day for five months,” said Ryan Zook, as he took a break from trailing 3-year-old son Maverick who powered his way through the park on a toy tractor. “Without the winds, and in the sunshine, this is the best park ever.”

The park parking lot was packed and picnickers lined tables around noontime, beckoned by blue skies, sunshine, and temperatures topping the seventy-degree mark on Monday. See our “A Walk in the Park” gallery here.

“We drove all the way from North Carolina for this picnic,” joked Jim Mohney, as he and wife Heidi picnicked with family.  The family, who was in town for the holiday, planned the picnic with friends and family yesterday after hearing about the gorgeous weather, and the drizzly days ahead during the week.

“This is our favorite park,” said Heidi Mohney. “Our kids love it all because the ducks are here.”

“We chase the ducks,” said Cody Mohney, age 7, who acknowledged that the ducks always manage to elude him.

For the couple, who moved from Neffsville to North Carolina, Lititz Springs Park holds a special place in their heart.

“Jim and I came here on the 4th of July to see fireworks before we were married,” said Heidi, and son Joshua had his first-ever picnic at the park downtown.

Today the couple was on hand with 5-month old baby Curtis, who was enjoying his first trip to the park.

An Amish boy and girl swerved through the park on ripsticks, as many Amish gathered in the park today.

“It’s Easter Monday,” said an Amish man as a large group of Amish prepared to depart on a hay-filled tractor. Easter Monday is observed as a holiday among the Amish.

Meanwhile, bubbles wafted through the air as two moms delighted their toddlers, who happily pursued the soapy, elusive spheres. At the head end of the Springs, a canine couldn’t resist diving in after a pair of ducks, who flew off quacking their objection.

More placid conditions downstream found a nesting duck on the island who was so well camouflaged it was difficult to spot her. Pieces and slices of bread floated downstream past her, as well-fed ducks declined the feast tossed by visitors.