Queen ELizabeth Park

History - The Building of a Park

Queen Elizabeth Park started its life in Vancouver as something else entirely - a basalt quarry. As the 19th Century turned into the 20th, this, the highest point of land in the fledgling city, was the source of foundation rock for many miles of early Vancouver roads. It was owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) who early on sold off parcels of its acreage to the Civic Water Committee for a reservoir when the Stanley Park facility at Prospect Point became too small for the quickly growing city. By 1911 the quarry was closed permanently and the dreadful scar of its works left like a raw wound on the landscape. There the land would sit for nearly two decades, in limbo, to all except the children of Vancouver who inhabited its hills, hollows and caves while nature cast her magic veil with brush and blackberries, claiming the forgotten property.

In 1928 the CPR agreed to sell 94.25 acres to the City of Vancouver and the Municipalities of South Vancouver and Point Grey for $100,000. This sale marked not only the future direction of Little Mountain as a park, but was one of the first cooperative acts between these separate Vancouver districts which proved a precursor to the great amalgamation of 1929.

The Great Depression followed on the heels of this important decision leading to nearly a decade of inaction in the redevelopment of Little Mountain. Then, in 1940, the site was given a new moniker, Queen Elizabeth Park, after the 1939 visit of King George VI and his consort, Elizabeth. It was on this visit that the royal couple officially opened the Lions Gate Bridge. During the war years, little development occurred at Queen Elizabeth Park. Then in 1948, Deputy Superintendent William Livingstone put his full attention and the combined talents of his dedicated Park Board horticultural staff, to the task of transforming the site.

It is nearly legend at the Park Board how this self-taught individual, the son of one of Vancouver's first nurserymen, designed the new park landscape plan. Retired employees tell how the lanky figure of the Deputy Park Superintendent could be seen on-site, from dawn to dusk, directing numerous bulldozers to reshape the scarred earth, not working from drawings, but from a clear vision in his mind. Rather than reclaim the gullies left by the quarry operation, he used them as backdrop for choice plants, trees and shrubs, and for the placement of his best designs- water features.

By October 1949 the quarries' surrounding slopes were being planted as an Arboretum, with the long-term goal of displaying there every tree species native to Canada, at least those that would prosper in Vancouver's climate, over time. The first tree was planted that year initiating a larger planting program in cooperation with funding from the Canadian Pulp & Paper Association, a partnership that spanned eight years with a cumulative donation of $40,000.

Between 1953 and 1954 the main quarry garden was developed. By 1956, an additional reservoir was completed on the park's southern slope with an innovative roof allowing the construction of 22 tennis courts on its top. For Vancouver's 75th Anniversary, the north quarry garden was completed and dedicated as part of a series of projects to mark the occasion. The city's "highest" pitch & putt golf course officially opened in 1962 followed in 1966 by the completion of the lawn bowling green.

But indeed, the largest development and civic gift at the time, was yet to come, when in December 1969 Prentice Bloedel gave over $1 million toward the development of a new plaza, covered walkways, fountains and the domed Bloedel Floral Conservatory. An avid collector of modern art, Mr. Bloedel further enhanced the new plaza with the gift of the Henry Moore sculpture Knife Edge - Two Piece giving focal point to the vast concrete landscape.

In 1974, the park's last major development in the original plan was undertaken in the form of a new restaurant, perched over the north quarry garden. This was called the Quarry House (later Seasons in the Park) and though owned by the Park Board, was leased to an independent operator.

Between 2003 and 2006 the park's two earthen reservoirs were reconstructed by the Greater Vancouver Regional District to bring them up to current earth quake standards. The newly redeveloped plaza was officially opened in April 2007. The cost for the reconstruction was $6 million and encompassed a 1.2 hectare area including seven covered Tai Chi arbours, the 93 m² (1,000 ft²) Celebration Pavilion and a fabulous dancing fountain - recirculating 85,000 litres of water through 70 jets. Henry Moore's imposing sculpture Knife Edge - Two Piece has been elevated to a more prominent position adjacent to the fountains.

Reflections from the Past

"Large Memories of a Little Mountain"

A remembrance by Harold C. Huggins  - originally published in the Vancouver South News, May 29, 1952.

"Building the Gardens" - In his own words

The following is an excerpt from an article written by Bill Livingstone, Park Board Deputy Superintendent and horticulturist, who designed and built Queen Elizabeth Park.

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