Queen Elizabeth Park is a 130-acre[1]municipal park located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is located on top of Little Mountain approximately 125 metres (410 ft) above sea level[2] and is the location of former basalt quarries dug in the beginning of the twentieth century to provide materials for roads in the city.[3]
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 park board.[3] By the end of that decade, the site had been turned over to the Vancouver Park Board for park and recreation purposes. The park was dedicated by King George VI and his consort, Queen Elizabeth (the mother of Queen Elizabeth II) during their visit to Vancouver in 1939, as King and Queen of Canada. From that time, Park staff incrementally transformed the overgrown hillsides into Canada's first civic arboretum, with a generous donation from the Canadian Pulp and Paper Association. The popular quarry gardens were designed by Park Board Deputy Superintendent Bill Livingstone and were unveiled in the early 1960s.
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]
Attractionsedit
There are several other attractions in the park including:
^"City of Vancouver - Queen Elizabeth Park". City of Vancouver. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
^ ab"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.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Queen Elizabeth Park.
Official website
1939 film footage of the park
February 16, 2024
queen, elizabeth, park, british, columbia, queen, elizabeth, park, acre, municipal, park, located, vancouver, british, columbia, canada, located, little, mountain, approximately, metres, above, level, location, former, basalt, quarries, beginning, twentieth, c. Queen Elizabeth Park is a 130 acre 1 municipal park located in Vancouver British Columbia Canada It is located on top of Little Mountain approximately 125 metres 410 ft above sea level 2 and is the location of former basalt quarries dug in the beginning of the twentieth century to provide materials for roads in the city 3 Queen Elizabeth ParkA view of the parkTypePublic ParkLocationVancouver British Columbia CanadaCoordinates49 14 32 N 123 06 54 W 49 24222 N 123 11500 W 49 24222 123 11500 Queen Elizabeth Park Area52 hectares 130 acres Created1939Operated byCity of VancouverWebsitevancouver wbr ca wbr parks recreation culture wbr queen elizabeth park wbr aspxBloedel Floral Conservatory PlazaCherry Blossoms in springPark in autumnDuck Pond Contents 1 History 2 Attractions 3 Activities 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editBefore 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 park board 3 By the end of that decade the site had been turned over to the Vancouver Park Board for park and recreation purposes The park was dedicated by King George VI and his consort Queen Elizabeth the mother of Queen Elizabeth II during their visit to Vancouver in 1939 as King and Queen of Canada From that time Park staff incrementally transformed the overgrown hillsides into Canada s first civic arboretum with a generous donation from the Canadian Pulp and Paper Association The popular quarry gardens were designed by Park Board Deputy Superintendent Bill Livingstone and were unveiled in the early 1960s 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 editThere are several other attractions in the park including Arboretum Celebration Pavilion Bloedel Floral Conservatory Fountains Plaza Quarry Gardens Painters Corner SculptureSeveral episodes of the long running TV show Stargate SG 1 were filmed there citation needed Activities editActivities at Queen Elizabeth Park include Pitch and putt golf course Little Mountain disc golf course Tennis courts Lawn bowling club Tai Chi JoggingSee also editRoyal eponyms in CanadaReferences edit 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 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Queen Elizabeth Park Official website 1939 film footage of the park Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Queen Elizabeth Park British Columbia amp oldid 1194708868, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
