Queen Elizabeth Park, British Columbia
Queen Elizabeth Park | |
---|---|
Type | Public Park |
Location | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
Coordinates | 49°14′32″N 123°06′54″W / 49.24222°N 123.11500°W |
Area | 52 hectares (130 acres) |
Created | 1939 |
Operated by | City of Vancouver |
Website | vancouver |
Queen Elizabeth Park is a 130-acre
History
Before European settlement, the park was an old-growth forest and a spawning ground for salmon. Grey wolves, elk and bears would frequent the area. The settler population which began in earnest in the 1870s exterminated the grey wolves, elk and bears, chopped down all the old growth forest and paved over the salmon creeks. The salmon creeks that extend from Queen Elizabeth to False Creek do still exist today, however, they have been paved over.[4]
In 1936, the BC Tulip Association suggested the creation of sunken gardens within the old quarries to the city's
Prentice Bloedel's gift of $1.25 million funded the open reservoirs and built the country's first geodesic conservatory, which is surrounded by covered walkways, lighted fountains and a sculpture, Henry Moore's Knife Edge Two Piece 1962–65. The Bloedel Floral Conservatory opened on December 6, 1969 amidst much jubilation. Its enclosed tropical garden houses 500 exotic plants and flowers and more than a hundred free-flying tropical birds.[5]
Attractions
There are several other attractions in the park including:
- Arboretum
- Celebration Pavilion
- Bloedel Floral Conservatory
- Fountains/Plaza
- Quarry Gardens
- Painters' Corner
- Sculpture
Several episodes of the long running TV show Stargate SG-1 were filmed there.[citation needed]
Activities
Activities at Queen Elizabeth Park include:
- Pitch and putt golf course
- Little Mountain disc golfcourse
- Tennis courts
- Lawn bowling club
- Tai Chi
- Jogging
See also
References
- ^ "History of Queen Elizabeth Park". Archived from the original on April 2, 2015.
- ^ "City of Vancouver - Queen Elizabeth Park". City of Vancouver. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
- ^ a b "Bloedel Conservatory - History". Vancouver Heritage Foundation. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
- ^ "Rivers run beneath us". The Georgia Straight. July 21, 2005. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
- ^ "Bloedel Conservatory". City of Vancouver. Retrieved October 6, 2012.