| Victoria Park | |
|---|---|
The Cenotaph located in the centre of Victoria Park |
|
| Type | Public park |
| Location | Regina, Saskatchewan |
| Area | 2.4 hectares (5.9 acres) |
| Created | 1907 |
| Operated by | City of Regina |
| Status | Open all year |
Victoria Park is a public park in the centre of downtown Regina. The city's founders set aside a plot of land right in the centre of town and named it Victoria Square. It was supposed to serve as a green space, part of an effort to make Regina a more attractive destination for settlers. However, the town twice offered this parcel to developers (both offers were rejected), and no landscaping efforts were made there until the start of the twentieth century.
In 1907, the City of Regina hired landscape architect Frederick Todd to design a plan for Victoria Square, later known as Victoria Park. Todd was also the designer of the formal garden at the Saskatchewan Legislative Building. His sketch envisioned a spoke-like series of paths all leading to a central focal point. That focal point was, at first, Davin Fountain (dedicated to the founder of the Regina Leader-Post and local MP, Nicholas Flood Davin). In 1926, Davin Fountain was removed and the current Cenotaph took its place. Today the park contains a small playground, numerous benches, mature trees and gardens. Each summer it plays host to a number of functions, including the Regina Folk Festival.