Beacon Hill Park
| Beacon Hill Park | |
|---|---|
 View towards the Strait and the Olympic Range | |
 | |
| Type | Public park |
| Location | Victoria,British Columbia |
| Created | 1882 |
| Operated by | City of Victoria |
| Website | www |
Beacon Hill Parkis a 75 ha (183 acre) park located along the shore ofJuan de Fuca StraitinVictoria, British Columbia.The park is popular both with tourists and locals, and contains a number of amenities including woodland and shoreline trails, two playgrounds, a waterpark, playing fields, a petting zoo, tennis and pickleball courts, many ponds, and landscaped gardens.
The name of the park refers to Beacon Hill, a hill located at the park's southern end. The traditional name of the hill ismíqәn(pronounced "MEE-qan", sometimes spelledMeeganorMeeacan) to theSongheespeople, meaning "warmed by the sun".[1][2]
History
[edit]míqәn(Beacon Hill) was a popular location for local indigenous peoples to rest and play games, and wherecamasandgreat camasbulbs were harvested.[3]At the base of the hill was the location of a settlement periodically occupied from approximately 1000 to 300 years prior to present-day.[2]The hill is culturally significant, having been a burial site for theFirst NationsCoast Salish people,who are the original inhabitants of theGreater Victoriaregion.
The land ultimately made into the park was set aside as a protected area bySir James Douglas,governor of theColony of Vancouver Islandin 1858. In 1882, the land was officially made a municipal park of the City of Victoria, and given its present name. The name was derived from the hill at the southern end of the park, which had also been used to host navigational beacons. It provides scenic vistas of the Strait and theOlympic MountainsofWashington.
Ecology
[edit]Although much of the park has been landscaped into gardens and playing fields, and populated with various structures, a great deal of the native flora has been preserved.Garry oak,arbutus,Douglas-fir,western redcedar,camas,trillium,snowberry,Oregon grape,andfawn lilystill remain in the park, as well as the threatenedYellow Montane Violet.
Peacocksandsquirrelsare present throughout the park, and occasionallyraccoonsandriver otterscan be seen. The ponds in the park are noted for theirswans,turtles,ducks,Canada geese,andblue herons.Commonly seen duck species in the park include commonmallard,American wigeon,Eurasian wigeon,Hooded merganserandBufflehead.Many other bird species can be seen in the park including theAnna's hummingbird,Bald eagle,Red-breasted nuthatchandCommon raven.
Notable structures
[edit]
The park is notable for a few human-made features. Most prominent is the world's fourth-tallesttotem pole,a 38.8-metre (127 ft) work carved from a single cedar tree byKwakwaka'wakwcraftsman ChiefMungo Martin,his son David, andHenry Hunt.[4]When erected in 1956 it was the tallest totem pole in the world. The pole has been repaired a number of times and was lowered from 2000-2001 for a significant restoration.[5]
The pebble bridge over the stream between Goodacre and Fountain Lake is a tribute to renowned BC artistEmily Carr,erected by her sister Alice Carr in 1945.
In the middle of the park, the Cameron Bandshell, otherwise known as "The Stage", is the site of concerts from June through September.
"Mile 0" of theTrans-Canada Highwayis at the south-west corner of the park, along with the oldBeacon Lodgeand the famousBeacon Drive-In.
Amenities
[edit]
The park has numerous gardens, meadows, viewpoints, and trails. There is an off-leash dog area at the southern end of the park. The park also hosts numerous sports fields, including facilities forlawn bowling,cricket,baseball,tennis,andpickleball.There are two playgrounds and a number of public washrooms. The park is a popular location for picnics, relaxing, cycling and recreating and in the summer has a petting zoo.
References
[edit]- ^Paquet, Maggie (1986).The B.C. Parks Explorer(First ed.). Vancouver: Whitecap Books. p. 57.ISBN0-920620-63-9.
- ^ab"lək̓ʷəŋən Traditional Territory".Songhees Nation.Retrieved2023-12-12.
- ^"Camas Country".beaconhillparkhistory.org.Retrieved2023-12-12.
- ^"Beacon Hill Park History - Chapter 13 - 1950-1959".beaconhillparkhistory.org.Retrieved2023-12-12.
- ^Ludwig, Michaela (2018-02-12)."The Story Behind Beacon Hill Park's Story Pole • British Columbia Magazine".British Columbia Magazine.Retrieved2023-12-12.
External links
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