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PARK AND CEMETERY. 
PROGRESSIVE PARK WORK IN VANCOUVER 
The past two years have seen a more 
extended development in the park system 
of Vancouver, B. C., than at any time in 
the city’s history, and a recent report of 
the work of the past two years by Super- 
intendent W. S. Rawlings shows a long list 
of accomplishments in real park develop- 
ment. 
Apart from the amount of work under- 
taken it is a matter of gratification that 
the character of the accomplishments was 
such as to appeal to the users of the parks 
and beaches. The work of the past has 
been more of a pioneer nature ; the more 
recent work appeals directly to the real 
needs of the people to a greater extent 
than has been the case in the past. 
During the two years preceding this re- 
port, a large total area of land was ac- 
quired for park purposes in various parts 
of the city. Where the needs of the dis- 
trict created the demand for a park, orna- 
mental or recreational, these new areas 
were developed, but only in such cases. 
To meet these demands the following parks 
were prepared and developed either wholly 
or in part : 
Pandora Park, consisting of two city 
blocks, was fully developed, the easterly 
block being prepared and laid out for a 
ball ground, the westerly block as a floral 
park with tennis courts. 
Granville Park, consisting of two city 
blocks, was partially developed, the easterly 
block being graded, underdrained and seed- 
ed and laid out as a ball ground. 
The board has adopted the plan for the 
layout of Sunnyside Park as a floral park 
and considerable progress has been made 
towards the carrying out of the scheme. 
The policy laid down by the board that 
Stanley Park must always remain “the 
people’s park” and that whatever develop- 
ment takes place shall be along lines which 
will secure the maximum facilities of 
recreational and educational enjoyment for 
the public has been followed out. 
In dealing with this park, or forest, as 
many people still prefer to term it, many 
features and viewpoints present themselves. 
Chief among them is the preservation of 
its natural beauty before all other consid- 
erations. Care has to be exercised in 
planning any new work that it shall con- 
form to the order of things as they exist, 
and that it shall preserve characteristic 
natural features. 
To the preservation of the tree life of 
the park and reforesting much considera- 
tion has been given. The desire to secure 
the best expert advice along these lines led 
the park board to consult the Dominion 
Government Entomological Department. 
As a result, their experts are working in 
close co-operation in endeavoring to pre- 
serve and enhance the forest life of the 
park. The benefit of this will be reaped 
by future generations, though not so ob- 
vious to us at the present time. One of 
the government experts has for the past 
two years lived, as it were, in Stanley 
Park, and is making a special study of the 
conditions of the forest, and the reports 
and advice received from time to time are 
invaluable and the results already have 
been most marked. 
The opening up of the park so as to 
give access to its more remote parts and 
to the heart of the forest, where nature is 
to be seen at her best, has been an under- 
taking of the first importance. 
Old trails, almost obliterated by under- 
growth, have been opened up, resurfaced 
and generally improved. Entirely new trails 
and walks were constructed to points of 
special interest. Thus the Beaver Lake and 
the Beaver colony can be approached from 
all points, though the choicest route is 
through the ravine, which has been opened 
up by a new walk, with rustic bridges 
spanning the stream. This spot has proved 
a great attraction and is much visited. 
While in this manner the needs of the 
pedestrian have been studied and provided 
for adequately in planning improvements, 
the requirements of the horseman and the 
motorist were not overlooked. The drive- 
way, at considerable expense ($29,834.93) 
has been almost entirely remodeled and 
resurfaced, and those sections which, 
through being heavily shaded by foliage. 
SIWASH ROCK, FROM "THE PULPIT," STANLEY PARK, VANCOUVER, B. C. 
