Minoru Park: Difference between revisions
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In 1996 the arena hosted the [[1996 Women's Pacific Rim Championship|IIHL Women's Pacific Rim Championship]]. |
In 1996 the arena hosted the [[1996 Women's Pacific Rim Championship|IIHL Women's Pacific Rim Championship]]. |
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In November 2006, the [[UBC Thunderbirds]] hockey team from the [[University of British Columbia]] moved to Minoru Arenas, using it as one of their temporary home arenas while their new stadium, the [[UBC Winter Sports Centre]], is being constructed.<ref>[http://richmondreview.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=45&cat=40&id=763034&more= Richmond Review]</ref> |
In November 2006, the [[UBC Thunderbirds]] hockey team from the [[University of British Columbia]] moved to Minoru Arenas, using it as one of their temporary home arenas while their new stadium, the [[UBC Winter Sports Centre]], is being constructed.<ref>[http://richmondreview.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=45&cat=40&id=763034&more= Richmond Review] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061023051946/http://www.richmondreview.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=45 |date=2006-10-23 }}</ref> |
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===Latrace Field=== |
===Latrace Field=== |
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===Minoru Park=== |
===Minoru Park=== |
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[[Image:Minoru-field.jpg|thumb|Minoru Park's soccer field.]] |
[[Image:Minoru-field.jpg|thumb|Minoru Park's soccer field.]] |
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The rest of the park features a park, some [[soccer]] fields and several outdoor [[tennis]] courts. Some of the former park land has been developed for low-income housing and condominiums. The [http://www.rrfc.bc.ca Richmond Rugby Football Club] also plays here and have been active in Richmond for over 50 years. |
The rest of the park features a park, some [[soccer]] fields and several outdoor [[tennis]] courts. Some of the former park land has been developed for low-income housing and condominiums. The [https://web.archive.org/web/20071227151954/http://www.rrfc.bc.ca/ Richmond Rugby Football Club] also plays here and have been active in Richmond for over 50 years. |
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==Geography== |
==Geography== |
Revision as of 15:44, 1 February 2018
Minoru Park | |
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Richmond-Brighouse station |
Minoru Park is a park located on the site of a former horse-racing track and airstrip in
Minoru was one of the first major aviation hubs in Western Canada.
History
Named after
Almost one year later, on March 25, 1910, the first-ever
Another year later, on April 28, 1911, William Templeton flew a homemade biplane at Minoru. This was the first plane to be both built in and flown over Metro Vancouver. Templeton would later become the first manager of Vancouver International Airport.[5]
On May 24, 1912, the first parachute jump in Canada was made in Minoru Park by Charles Saunders.[6]
American Alys Bryant became the first woman in Canada to make a solo flight, taking off from Minoru Park on July 31, 1913.[7]
In early August 1919, the first-ever flight in Canada to cross the Rocky Mountains took off from Minoru Park. It was manned by Vancouver's Ernest Charles Hoy, who flew the plane from Richmond to Calgary. The trip took 16 hours and 42 minutes. It was also the first airmail delivery across the Rocky Mountains.[8]
Minoru Park, which was shut down during the
One of the more interesting incidents that took place at Minoru Park involves Vancouver's most frequently elected mayor, L. D. Taylor. In 1928, he was on board the first flight from Victoria to Metro Vancouver. The plane landed at Minoru Park, and a crowd was waiting there because of Taylor's appearance. Taylor stepped out of the plane and as he was walking towards the crowd, he was struck by the plane's propeller. He suffered a fractured skull, but was up and about only weeks later. A local aviation pioneer commented, "It sliced off the top of his head, you know, and knocked him unconscious. They said if he'd had an ounce more brains he'd have been a dead man."[10]
Richmond and Lulu Island's first-ever church, Minoru Chapel, originally built in 1891, was also moved and rebuilt at Minoru Park in 1967, and later designated a heritage building.[11] In 1968, it was converted to an interdenominational chapel housing mainly weddings and funerals; it remains in this state today.[12]
Present-day Minoru Park
Today, Minoru Park is home to the city's cultural and community services:
Richmond Library and Cultural Centre
The Richmond Library and Cultural Centre is home to the City of Richmond Archives, Richmond Museum, Richmond Art Gallery, Richmond Arts Centre and Media Lab, and the Brighouse branch of the Richmond Public Library. It also hosts arts and crafts clubs on the second floor, as well as other community societies.
Minoru Aquatic Centre
The Minoru Aquatic Centre houses two lap pools — Minoru (25 metres) and Centennial (30 metres) — and one teach/kids pool. The facility houses a small
Swimming lessons offered include the
Minoru Arenas
Minoru Arenas is home to Richmond's junior league team, the Richmond Sockeyes. The building houses two skating rinks: one for general skates and hockey practices, and the other for hockey games and tournaments, complete with spectator stands. Annually during Christmas time, the latter is decorated to a "Christmas Wonderland" theme, and free skating time is offered in exchange for a donation to the food bank.
In 1996 the arena hosted the IIHL Women's Pacific Rim Championship.
In November 2006, the
Latrace Field
Located in Minoru Park, Latrace Field is home to the Richmond AutoBody Budgies Senior Men's Baseball Club, as well the Lower Mainland Baseball League.
Clement Track
Clement Track (formally Minoru Track, renamed after Doug and Diane Clement, local track and field people) was built on the site of the former horse-racing track. Today, it is used mostly for running competitions and for general recreational use when not used for sporting tournaments. There are two school events annually: the Richmond School District's Track and Field Meet, where schools from the school district (SD38) come to compete, and the St.Joseph Elementary School vs. St.Paul Elementary School track meet, two private schools. The length of the Minoru Track is 400 metres.
Minoru Park
The rest of the park features a park, some
Geography
Minoru Park's approximate road boundaries are Gilbert Road to the west, Westminster Highway to the north, Minoru Boulevard to the east and Granville Avenue to the south.
The Minoru Park area is surrounded by other Richmond landmarks. To its east is Richmond Centre, the city's largest mall. The southeast part of the part is close to the Richmond City Hall. To its west is the Richmond Hospital, the main hospital of the city, and Gateway Theatre, which houses most of the city's performing arts productions and clubs.
The provincial headquarters of Worksafe B.C., the workers' compensation board, is located to Minoru's northwest. The main hall of the Richmond Fire Department is located near the park's southwest part. Richmond's main Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment was located across from the Richmond Cultural Centre, on Minoru's east side but has since moved. It officially opened its doors on October 1, 2011 at 8 a.m. at the new location of 11411 No. 5 Road.
Transportation
Minoru is easily accessible from Vancouver International Airport, via the Dinsmore Bridge.
It can also be reached via
New construction
Minoru Park is undergoing construction from April 2014 to 2017. There will be an added artificial soccer field, a multi-purpose turf field, and a multi-purpose facility for aquatics and sports for older adults. The project is designed by the Richmond Sports Council, and the purpose is to replace the aging and inadequate facilities that no longer satisfy the community.
Track and field throwing events, the cricket pitch, the tennis courts and one of the two existing turf fields will be relocated. Several trees near the Regency Park Towers have been cut down to make sure there is sufficient space. However, in new landscaping they will be replaced at a ratio of 3:1. There are also several paths in the park that are blocked due to construction.
Minoru Pavilion will be torn down in the Summer to make way for the new facilities.
The plan also includes new paths for park visitors and an expanded parking lot.
49°09′56″N 123°08′43″W / 49.16556°N 123.14528°W
References
- ^ https://www.richmond.ca/plandev/planning2/heritage/HeritageInv/details.aspx?ID=162
- ^ https://www.richmond.ca/plandev/planning2/heritage/HeritageInv/details.aspx?ID=162
- ^ The History of Metropolitan Vancouver
- ^ The History of Metropolitan Vancouver
- ^ The History of Metropolitan Vancouver
- ^ The History of Metropolitan Vancouver
- ^ The History of Metropolitan Vancouver
- ^ The History of Metropolitan Vancouver
- ^ The History of Metropolitan Vancouver
- ^ The History of Metropolitan Vancouver
- ^ http://www.vancouverhistory.ca/chronology1967.htm
- ^ The History of Metropolitan Vancouver
- ^ Richmond Review Archived 2006-10-23 at the Wayback Machine