Oxford Park, Montreal

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Oxford Park is a park in the southern part of the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce district in Montreal's West End, made famous for its sporting tradition. Such hockey greats as Doug Harvey, Howie Morenz, Kenny Mosdell and Fleming Mackell learned their crafts on the outdoor rink which was part of a larger neighbourhood house league which included such teams at Terrebonne Park, Benny Park, and Patricia Park. The park was also where boxing legend Johnny Greco played sports as a child. The park is bounded by Oxford, Upper Lachine, Girouard and Saint Jacques Street.

The park was initially part of the Brodie farm and sold to the city of Montreal in 1949 for $73,000 under the condition that the historic farmhouse would be turned into a library or facility for children. The city reneged on this clause and the stone building was demolished in the 1960s. The park was also home to a longstanding Italian Festival which was cancelled after the city added a controversial fenced-off plastic turf soccer field, which could get damaged during fireworks.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Gravenor, Kristian. "The tragedy of Brodie farm", Montreal Mirror, 2005-07-07. Retrieved on 2008-03-24. 
  • Harvey's No. 2 Habs sweater to be retired early this season by Tim Burke. The Gazette. Montreal, Que.: Sep 5, 1985. pg. F.1

An excerpt from a family history of the Brodie clan of Montreal, the family which settled the land where Oxford Park now stands. [1]