Stanley Park: “Tennis Anyone?”
Coal Harbour originally received its name from the coal that was discovered lining the harbour shores. It was natural in the early days for the railway to take its trains to this location for this primary resource. However, coal is no longer the focus of this area and the CP Rail tracks have been removed to make way for this extraordinary aspect of Vancouver’s growth as a world city. Now instead of coal acquisition, we see the beauty of the area, the recreational potential and the prestigious residential housing towers of this truly 21st century development.
Easily accessed by bike paths and within walking distance is the grand and venerable Stanley Park, Vancouver’s landmark 1,000 acre playground. Networked with walking, cycling and roller-blading paths, it is surrounded by the famous seawall, which was first begun in 1918, now encircling the park at 8.8 Km. and connecting to the city from both north and south entrances.
Stanley Park has been THE popular destination for Vancouverites and tourists for over a century. In fact, by 1913, the Park had become a popular tourist destination with 50,000 weekly visitors walking to the park for its cool mature cedars, beaches and natural beauty, which we still enjoy today.
Development of Vancouver’s West End drove the creation of the recreational areas in Stanley Park at the beginning of the last century. Now Coal Harbour’s densification and planned development is situated on the other side of the jewel that is Stanley Park, and now Coal Harbour residents also have easy access to this remarkable area of Vancouver’s living history.
It takes no time to zip over to the cool refreshment of this park’s natural beauty. Its combination of planned gardens with lush West Coast forest trails that open out to beaches and wide views is practically right next door for any Coal Harbour resident. Morning tennis anyone? Pitch and putt?
Unlike the original visitors to Stanley Park, you don’t need to bring a picnic. There are great restaurants at the park, and I’m including their websites here just for your information. the Sequoia Grill at the Teahouse on Ferguson Point recently updated from the Ferguson Point Teahouse – a truly incredible location, the Fish House exquisite and very well reviewed, the Prospect Point Cafe“ looking across to North and West Vancouver, and the Rose Garden Tea House a lovely place to stop for full high tea.
The recreational cycle paths connecting to the seawall also connect to the rest of the city’s network of bike paths and greenways. From a home in Coal Harbour you not only have walking access to Vancouver downtown, Gastown and the seabus/skytrain terminal, but recreational cycle routes take you to many of the city’s best locations.
