Minoru Park
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Minoru Park is a park located on the site of a former horse-racing track and airstrip in Richmond, British Columbia. The Minoru Park's running track is often used for school competitions, such as Track & Field, where participants test their strengths against other schools in areas such as running; short and long distances. The area is home to the Minoru Arenas, Minoru Track, Minoru Aquatic Centre and Richmond Cultural Centre (which in turn houses the Richmond Public Library's main branch, Richmond Art Gallery and Richmond Museum). All these facilities account for the bulk of community services offered by the city.
Minoru is arguably one of the most historically rich places in the Vancouver area, as it is known as one of the first major aviation hubs in Western Canada.
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[edit] History
Named after King Edward VII's Epsom Derby-winning Irish thoroughbred racehorse, Minoru, the area started out as a horse-racing track on August 21, 1909, to an audience of 7,000 [1]. (Minoru never raced in Richmond, however.)
Almost one year later, on March 25, 1910, the first-ever Canadian airplane flight west of Winnipeg took off from Minoru Racetrack, with 3,500 witnesses on hand. The plane was manned by Charles K. Hamilton; he flew it from Minoru to New Westminster and back. [2] This event is often credited for the Vancouver International Airport being located in Richmond rather than another municipality in Greater Vancouver.
Another year later, on April 28, 1911, William Templeton flew a homemade biplane at Minoru. This was the first plane to be both built in and flown over Greater Vancouver. Templeton would later become the first manager of Vancouver International Airport. [3]
On May 24, 1912, the first parachute jump in Canada was made in Minoru Park by Charles Saunders. [4]
American Alys Bryant became the first woman in Canada to make a solo flight, taking off from Minoru Park on July 31, 1913. [5].
In early August 1919, the first-ever flight in Canada to cross the Rocky Mountains took off from Minoru Park. It was manned by Vancouver's Ernest C. Hoy, who flew the plane from Richmond to Calgary, Alberta. The trip took 16 hours and 42 minutes. It was also the first airmail delivery across the Rocky Mountains. [6]
Minoru Park, which was shut down during the First World War, re-opened in 1920 as Brighouse Park, named after Richmond and Vancouver pioneer and farmer Samuel Brighouse. [7]
One of the more interesting incidents that took place at Minoru Park involves Vancouver's most frequently-elected mayor, L.D. Taylor. In 1928, he was on board the first flight from Victoria to Greater Vancouver. The plane landed at Minoru Park, and a crowd was waiting there because of Taylor's appearance. Taylor stepped out of the plane and as he was walking towards the crowd, he was struck by the plane's propellor. He suffered a fractured skull, but was up and about only weeks later. A local aviation poineer commented, "It sliced off the top of his head, you know, and knocked him unconscious. They said if he'd had an ounce more brains he'd have been a dead man." [8]
Richmond and Lulu Island's first-ever church, Minoru Chapel, originally built in 1891, was also moved and rebuilt at Minoru Park in 1967, and later designated a heritage building [9]. In 1968, it was converted to an interdenominational chapel housing mainly weddings and funerals; it remains in this state today [10].
[edit] Present-day Minoru
Today, Minoru Park remains significant, but in a different way. Rather than retaining its status as an aviation centre, it is now home to the city's cultural and community services:
[edit] Richmond Cultural Centre
The Richmond Cultural Centre is home to the Richmond Museum, Richmond Art Gallery and the main branch of the Richmond Public Library. It also hosts arts and crafts clubs on the second floor, as well as other community societies. Many of the Richmond Art Gallery's displays originate from those arts and crafts clubs.
[edit] Minoru Aquatic Centre
The Minoru Aquatic Centre houses two lap pools (Minoru @ 25 meters and Centennial @ 30 meters) and one teach/kids pool. The facility houses a small weight room, a co-ed sauna and two hot tubs . Most of the swimming lessons offered by the city takes place here, as well as the water-based first aid training for residents. Swim competitions no longer take place here since Watermania was completed. In addition, some films and TV shows are known to shoot some of their scenes here (for example, Smallville's "Cool" episode).
Swimming lessons offered include the Canadian Red Cross's Red Cross Swim Kids program (levels 1-10) and the Canadian Lifesaving Society's Bronze program (Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross).
[edit] Minoru Arenas
Minoru Arenas is home to Richmond's junior league team, the Richmond Sockeyes. The building houses two skating rinks: one for general skates and hockey practices, and the other for hockey games and tournaments, complete with spectator stands. Annually during Christmas time, the latter is decorated to a "Christmas Wonderland" theme, and free skating time is offered in exchange for a donation to the food bank.
In November 2006, the UBC Thunderbirds hockey team from the University of British Columbia moved to Minoru Arenas, using it as one of their temporary home arenas while their new stadium, the UBC Winter Sports Centre, is being constructed. [11]
[edit] Latrace Field
Located in Minoru Park, Latrace Field is home to the Richmond AutoBody Budgies Senior Men's Baseball Club, as well the Lower Mainland Baseball League.
[edit] Clement Track
Clement Track (formally Minoru Track, renamed after Doug and Diane Clement, local track and field people) was built on the site of the former horse-racing track. Today, it is used mostly for running competitions and for general recreational use when not used for sporting tournaments. There are two school events annually. One is the Richmond School District's Track and Field Meet, where schools from the school district (SD38) come to compete. The other would be the St.Joseph Elementary School vs. St.Paul Elementary School track meet, two private schools. The length of the Minoru Track is 400 meters.
[edit] Minoru Park
The rest of the park features a park, some soccer fields and several outdoor tennis courts. Some of the former park land has been developed for low-income housing and condominiums. The Richmond Rugby Football Club also plays here and have been active in Richmond for over 50 years. On most Saturdays you can go out and watch all 3 of their divisions play during the afternoon and then join them in the pavillion for the aftermatch.
[edit] Geography
Minoru Park's approximate road boundaries are Gilbert Road to the west, Westminster Highway to the north, Minoru Boulevard to the east and Granville Avenue to the south.
The Minoru Park area is surrounded by other Richmond landmarks. To its east is Richmond Centre, the city's largest mall. The southeast part of the part is close to the Richmond City Hall. To its west is the Richmond Hospital, the main hospital of the city, and Gateway Theatre, which houses most of the city's performing arts productions and clubs.
The provincial headquarters of Worksafe B.C., the workers' compensation board, is located to Minoru's northwest. The main hall of the Richmond Fire Department is located near the park's southwest part. Richmond's main Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment is located across from the Richmond Cultural Centre, on Minoru's east side.
True to its aviation heritage, the Vancouver International Airport is about ten minutes north of Minoru Park.
[edit] Transportation
Minoru is easily accessible from Vancouver International Airport, via the Dinsmore Bridge. It can also be reached via public transit because of its proximity to Richmond Centre, which is home to almost all bus routes in the city, including the bus rapid transit route from Vancouver and the airport, the 98 B-Line.
[edit] See also
