Stanley Park Trivia
-
courtesy
Tourism Vancouver
with additional material from GayVancouver.Net
The
jewel in Vancouver's crown, Stanely Park is the largest city park in Canada at
404 hectares (1,000 acres).
Described by one local writer as a 'thousand-acre therapeutic
couch', it began as a military reserve in the mid-1800s to guard the entrance to
Vancouver harbour from aggressive Americans. The Vancouver Parks Board
supervises it-and just about every resident in the city has an opinion if
anybody has plans to make any changes other than cutting the grass.
Here are some things you may or may not know about our beloved
Stanley Park:
Designer: much of Stanley Park's design was based on
the planning principles of Frederick Law Olmsted, the designer behind New York
City's Central Park.
Squirrels: in 1909, the City of New York presented
Vancouver with a gift of eight pairs of grey squirrels for Stanley Park. Now the
park is riddled with the critters, who are favourites of city residents and
visitors alike. Hold still, with some seeds or nuts in your hand and, usually in
a few minutes, one or two will tentatively approach and make a grab for them.
Stanley Park Seawall: on any given day, at just about
any given hour, you can run, walk, blade or cycle Stanley Park's seawall early
in the morning, past Chinese fishermen at Siwash Rock, where Indian
Princess‑poet Pauline Johnson's ashes are scattered.
Lost Lagoon: Native Indian poet Pauline Johnson named
this large pond, now featuring a spectacular fountain. The waters of the lagoon,
at the entrance to Stanley Park in the downtown core, once disappeared at low
tide, but today it's landlocked and a haven for wildfowl.
National
Geographic Tree: this is a huge red cedar, almost 30 metres around, that the
National Geographic Society believes is the largest of its kind in the world.
It's rooted near Stanley Park's Hollow Tree (a much better known tree locally),
30 metres along the trail to Third Beach.
The Nine o'clock Gun: a loud old English sea cannon was
placed in Vancouver's Stanley Park just over 100 years ago. It was fired
originally to remind local fishermen of fishing time limits... but now it sounds
every evening at 9pm as a time signal - and a tradition.
Birds in the Park: Stanley Park is a breeding ground
for birds, ducks, geese and swans; a great place for bird watching. Stroll
around Lost Lagoon and you'll spot a blue heron or a wood duck. Beaver Lake,
nestled inside Stanley Park is a quiet sanctuary for birds and people alike. In
spring, ducklings can be seen trailing mama around in the water and across the
paths. The city provides seed to the birds and in winter is a virtual plethora
of fowl.
