200 
PA RK AND CEMETERY. 
THE SEVEN SISTERS. OR “NATURE'S CATHEDRAL," STANLEY PARK, 
A'ANCOUVER. B. C. 
British Columbia Douglas Fir, Height 
duck ponds has been a notable accomplish- 
ment which has made for the greater com- 
fort and enjoyment of the large crowds 
which assemble on band concert and other 
special occasions. In this area a rock gar- 
den has been formed which extends as far 
as the Pipe Line road for a distance of 
nearly a mile. 
The building of the new greenhouses 
and propagating houses and the develop- 
ment of the new nursery, comprising six 
and one-half acres, became an accom- 
plished fact last year. In connection with 
this, the board has decided to set apart a 
portion of the nursery for a botanical gar- 
den wherein to display the native flora. 
This section of the park, long needed, 
promises to be one of exceptional educa- 
tional value. 
258 feet. 
The improvements and extensions car- 
ried out in the bathing beaches during the 
past two years have been the most notable 
since the beaches came under the control 
of the park board. An entirely new beach 
was created at English Bay, north of the 
pier, the foreshore being cleared of rocks 
and a sand beach being formed by sand 
pumping operations by means of a suction 
dredge. In order to retain the sand, tim- 
ber groynes were constructed^ an experi- 
ment which proved highly satisfactory ; 
the following year this beach was in full 
use. Continuing the work of extension, 
the area of English Bay Beach, south of 
the pier, was considerably enlarged, such 
result being possible by pumping the sand 
from the channel as before mentioned. 
Extensive work of a similar character 
was carried out at Second Beach, the rocks 
being cleared and formed into groynes for 
the purpose of holding the sand which it is 
hoped it will be possible to obtain in the 
near future. Meantime the improved con- 
ditions have made for the greater popu- 
larity of this, the children’s favorite beach, 
the increasing crowds of the past season 
being the evidence. Improvements to the 
adjoining area to be developed in the fu- 
ture for a children’s playground were com- 
menced, a considerable sand fill being made 
to bring it up to grade. 
Continuing the policy of utilizing all 
available foreshore along the waters of 
English Bay for bathing beaches, similar 
work of extension and development was 
undertaken at Kitsilano, the city’s most ex- 
tensive beach. Sand pumping operations 
extended the beach northward around the 
point. Unfortunately, however, the hopes 
we had of this work being continued west- 
ward past the bathhouse to Balsam street 
were not realized. Big preparations, in- 
volving a large expenditure of money in 
clearing the foreshore of rocks and the 
building of rock groynes and a rough re- 
taining wall, were made. When, in the 
near future, this portion is filled with 
sand, this stretch of beach will add to its 
reputation of being one of the finest beaches 
on the Pacific Coast. 
The effect of all this work has been most 
beneficial. The most sanguine expectations 
regarding the accommodation of the pub- 
lic at the bath-houses and beaches were 
more than realized. During the season of 
1915 not fewer than 181,994 persons passed 
through the bath-houses, or 50,655 in ex- 
cess of the previous best season. Of this 
number 90,936 were given all the privileges 
of the houses free. 
Other improvements in the Kitsilano 
Beach area consisted of filling in the low- 
lying area, recently acquired from the C. P. 
R., adjoining the beach and bringing it up 
to grade, involving a fill of 100,000 cubic 
yards, and also the conversion of the 
point (old hotel site) into a picnic area in 
which all provisions for the enjoyment of 
the public have been made. 
Many new features introduced during 
the past two years into the zoo, both in the 
character of the exhibit, by the addition of 
new and interesting inmates, and by the 
new housing of the principal animals un- 
der more natural conditions, have added 
much to the interest displayed in this fea- 
ture of the park attractions. The building 
of new cages for the regrouping of the 
cougars, badgers, wolves, foxes, racoons 
and other animals was undertaken last 
year. The result has been a great im- 
provement in the health of these animals 
which suffered from the cramped condi- 
tions under which they were exhibited in 
the past. 
