Introduction
Stanley Park is a modern urban park that is located in Vancouver, Canada. It is currently the most beloved park and was the first to be established in Vancouver. It is designated as a national and historic site in Canada. This park is an oasis whose magnificence and green feature cannot go unmentioned. It is positioned in the middle of a greatly built landscape in the urban areas of Vancouver in Canada. Visitors who find an opportunity to visit the park explore over 400 hectare natural rain forest situated in the west coast. They also get to enjoy the view of water that is quite scenic, the sky, the mountains and the stunning beauty of the majestic trees that grow along the renowned seawall of the Stanley Park. The guests also get to discover several kilometers of paths or trails, the amazing local wildlife, the elegant beaches, the excellent eats, the cultural landmarks, natural landmarks and the historic landmarks too. There are so many adventures that come alongside the mentioned ones. The park also offers its visitors an extensive range of experiences that cannot be forgotten easily for all interests and ages.
Stanley Park has a very long and rich history. It was one of the areas that were initially subjected to heavy exploration. The land in which the park is located was originally utilized by the indigenous residents for almost a thousand years before the British colonized British Colombia in 1858. For a long duration after colonization, the non-aboriginal settlers also resided in the park and enjoyed using its abundant resources. The vast land was then turned into the first park in Vancouver after incorporating the city in the year 1886. The first park was then given the name of the British politician, Lord Stanley who had just been appointed governor general by then. Stanley Park was not a grand scheme of a designer but an evolution of a developer’s dreams and hopes. It was a dream venture where citizens could have the opportunity to recreate themselves by peaceful sport and active relaxation. It was opened in 1888 in the 27th day of September after being named after the present governor-general.
Stanley Park is different from the other urban parks as it is not an artificial design of a landscape architect, but an urban space that has evolved over a long duration of centuries. The structures currently in the park were mostly constructed between the year 1991 and the year 1937 under the making and facilitation of the superintendent Rawlings S. W. The other attractions in the park that include miniature train, aquarium and the polar bear display were constructed later after the period of the post-war.
A larger portion of the park remains as it was in 1800s as it is still densely forested. The indigenous forest consists of many trees that can total up to 500,000. Some of the trees are approximately 76 meters tall and in terms of age, they range at one hundred years. The wind storms that took place in the past years led to the loss of over a thousand trees in the park. Some replanting was later done to replace the lost trees.
There were many changes in the parks’ shoreline brought about by the activities of the military during the wartime. In the year 1936 when the Japanese movement to Manchuria was perceived as a threat, fortifications were put up in many areas. Stanley Park was one of the affected areas. This caused shifts within the shoreline as the military wanted space for expansion. The military, therefore, closed places around the Third beach and Ferguson Point in bid to increase their use of the park.
The construction of the Vancouver wall involved the input of a significant effort and resources and it is approximately a century old. It has led to the attraction of thousands of guests worldwide and even the residents each day in the park. There are many other attractions like lakes, children playgrounds, the aquarium, numerous beaches, forest trails and many for interesting adventures.
Stanley Park falls among the most prominent attraction points in the city for both the residents and international tourists. This is proven by the statistic that it attracts approximately 8 million guests annually. The major attractions in Stanley Park are briefly outlined below.
The famous sea wall in Vancouver is a major attraction in the park that has attracted the attention of several visitors both internationally and locally. The popular activities that it is known for are cycling, skating, walking, running and fishing though with a legal license. The seawall exhibits two paths. One is assigned to the pedestrians and the other for the cyclists. The skaters’ and cyclists’ lane is one way in the counter clockwise loop. A walk in the whole loop takes around 3 hours while biking can take close to an hour.
The miniature railroad is also another spectacular source of attraction in the Canadian park. It is rideable and possesses seasonal themes. This is a tradition in Vancouver usually for the families that have small children. The initial railroad to be constructed was started in the year 1947 and it was characterized by a small train fit for children. In 1964, the adult-sized railroad was commenced and it operates up to date. Its engine is identical to the engine of the initial transcontinental train that reached the city in 1880s.
Another major attraction feature is the beaver lake. It is cushioned between the trees and is suitable for resting. The bigger part of the water mass is covered with the water lilies that were introduced in 1938 during the Queen’s Jubilee. It is a habitat of water birds, beavers and the fishes. The lake had a surface are of 10 acres by 1997 and has been shrinking over time. The lake is joined by one of the streams called Beaver Creek.
Another freshwater lake in the park that is 41 acres in size also contributes to the attraction of the visitors and in enhancing the beauty of the of the park’s scenery. Lost Lagoon is situated near the entrance of Georgia Street and nests many species of birds that include Canada geese, ducks and swans.
The aquarium at Vancouver is one of the largest in the whole country. Moreover, it is host to different species of aquatic life including sea otters, dolphins, and sea lions just to mention a few. The species of fish available in the aquarium totals to 300, the invertebrate’s species are 30000, the reptiles and amphibian species are 56 and approximately 60 species of birds and mammals.
The attraction caused by the various monuments in the park cannot be undermined. The monuments comprise gardens, plaques and statues. The monuments consist of statues that were constructed in memorial of the Canadian Japanese war, Jerome Harry the Olympic runner and Robert Burns the poet. The governing board of the park has ensured that the park remains in its natural state by banning the erection of more monuments.
Alongside the attraction features, the park also has other interesting constructions that makes it one of its kinds. The environment supports sporting activities, as there are several playing grounds that can fulfill the needs of the visitors. Among the sporting facilities is the tennis court, the cricket grounds, the rugby fields, a golf course a big swimming pool among others.
The governing board as the strong steward of the park; it is committed to nurturing and protection of the park in the coming generations. They are determined to enhance the services and the features of the park. This will ensure that Stanley Park is enjoyed by various visitors in a supportable manner both presently and in the future days.
Reference
<http://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/stanley-park.aspx>
