Rockwood Park
Parc Rockwood (Canadian French)
Ice rinks in Rockwood Park
Map
LocationSaint John, New Brunswick
Coordinates45°18′16″N 66°03′34″W / 45.3045°N 66.0594°W / 45.3045; -66.0594
Area2,200 acres (890 ha)
Established1884
FounderSaint John Horticultural Association
DesignerCalvert Vaux
Owned byCity of Saint John
Administered byRockwood Park Advisory Board
OpenDawn to Dusk
StatusOpen all year
Awards1971- Vincent Massey Award for Urban Excellence / 1982- AWWA Water Landmark Award
Camp sites189
Hiking trails53
DesignationStonehammer UNESCO Global Geopark site
Budget$527,829
Parking7 Parking Lots
Public transit accessSaint John Transit, Route 20 - Hawthorne Av. & Arrow Walk Rd. Stop
Ownership transferred to City1967
Websitewww.rockwoodparksj.ca

Rockwood Park is an urban park in Saint John, New Brunswick established in 1894. [1] It is 2,200 acres (890 ha) in size, with ten lakes and 55 trails and footpaths. The park includes upland Acadian mixed forest, several hills and several caves, as well as freshwater lakes, with a trail network, and a golf course. [2]

It is located in the eastern area of the North End and is one of Canada's largest urban parks.[3] It is also park of the UNESCO Stonehammer Geopark. [4]

The park is open from dawn until dusk and has free parking. Visitors can enter and exit from either the Lake Drive at Lily Lake or Hawthorne Avenue Extension at Fisher Lakes. Paved pathways connect to amenities such as the Interpretation Centre, the Kiwanis Play Park, and the Bark Park. [5]

Description

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Stables at Rockwood Park

Rockwood Park is located in Saint John, New Brunswick, just north from the Uptown region. The park has 55 trails both footpaths and mountain bike routes. [6]The park is 2,200 acres (890 ha) in size and contains six natural lakes.[7] One of these lakes, Lily Lake, is a frequent boating and fishing spot used by visitors.[8]

Rockwood Park is aptly named for its diverse geological formations. The park features a variety of rocks, including Precambrian marble, gneiss, and igneous rocks from the Precambrian to Cambrian period (such as granite, tonalite, granodiorite, and dacite), in addition to Devonian sandstone and conglomerate. Two distinct geological terranes are present within the park. The Caledonia Fault, a prominent geological feature, separates these two terranes. The main road past the Lily Lake Pavilion follows the fault line. The park offers various trails for geological exploration, accessible on foot, by mountain bike, or on horseback. For those seeking a more interactive experience, rock climbing with a guide is available. In winter, the park is ideal for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. [9]

History

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Rockwood Park was designed in the 19th century by Calvert Vaux, one of the designers of Central Park in New York City.[10] Vaux's father had previously made a preliminary report for the park, which Vaux would work on after inheriting some of his father's clients after his death.[11] Initially, Rockwood Park was created around Lily Lake during the late 19th century, being named through a vote conducted for nearby citizens.[12]

Early painting of Lily Lake with Saint John in the distance.

As a UNESCO geosite, Rockwood has been a site of significant geological study. In the late 1800s, the Natural History Society of New Brunswick conducted an investigation of the park's geology, and specimens collected during this period are now housed in the New Brunswick Museum. Howes Cave, discovered in the 1860s and later described in the Society Bulletin in 1904, formed through the dissolution of carbonate bedrock (marble) by natural acids in rainwater and groundwater. Additionally, a graphite mine operated near the outlet of Lily Lake during the 1800s. [13]

Lily Lake was one of the first sources of fresh water for Saint John.  It was hauled from the lake by tanks and sold for 1 cent a bucket.  In 1907, a court battle ensued as to who had the rights to the ice in Lily Lake; the ice cutters or the skaters.  Although the ice cutters had been granted permission to erect an ice block conveyor in previous years, the skaters won and for decades the lake was center for outdoor winter recreation. [14]

In 1926, the speed skater Charles Gorman, won the World Speed Skating Championship on Lily Lake. It was estimated that 25,000 people turned out on February 7, 1926, to watch him take the championship, setting a world record in the 220 and 440 yard events.[15]

Valentine Bialas, from Utica, New York, Charles Gorman, from Saint John, New Brunswick, Ferrell, Lela Brooks, from Toronto, Ontario at Lily Lake in 1926

Lily Lake Pavilion

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Lily Lake

In 1907, the grand Lily Lake Pavilion was inaugurated, only to be tragically destroyed by fire five years later. In 2006, following a complete restoration, the Lily Lake Pavilion reopened its doors and has since become a central hub of activity within Rockwood Park. The Pavilion is currently operated by Lily Lake Pavilion Inc., a registered charity. In 2012, when the striking granite sculpture Sunshine and Moonlight Over Saint John, created by Japanese artist Hiroyuki Asano, was installed at the park's entrance. [16]

Venues

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  • Lily Lake Pavilion[17]
  • Lily Lake Spa[18]
  • Inside Out Nature Center (Rock-climbing, guided hikes, outdoor equipment and boat rental) [19]
  • Beaches at Fisher Lake and Lily Lake
  • Campground[20]
  • Golf course and driving range[21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "About". Saint John Public Gardens. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  2. ^ "Rockwood Park". Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  3. ^ "10 Largest Urban Parks In Canada". World Atlas. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  4. ^ "Rockwood Park". Stonehammer. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  5. ^ "Rockwood Park". Stonehammer. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  6. ^ "Rockwood Park". Tourism New Brunswick. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  7. ^ Martin, Linda (1983). The city parks of Canada. Oakville, Ont. : Mosaic Press. p. 79. ISBN 978-0-88962-230-2. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  8. ^ Lawson, Jessie I. (1953). This is New Brunswick. Toronto: Ryerson Press. p. 68. Retrieved 29 February 2024.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
  9. ^ "Rockwood Park". Stonehammer UNESCO Global Geopark. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  10. ^ "Rockwood Park". Stonehammer UNESCO Global Geopark. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  11. ^ Birnbaum, Charles; Fix, Julie (1995). Pioneers of American Landscape Design II: An Annotated Bibliography. p. 146. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Rockwood Park". Stonehammer UNESCO Global Geopark. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  13. ^ "Rockwood Park". Stonehammer. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  14. ^ "Rockwood Park". Stonehammer UNESCO Global Geopark. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Rockwood Park". Stonehammer UNESCO Global Geopark. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  16. ^ "Lily Lake Pavilion". Lily Lake Hatheway Pavilion. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  17. ^ "About". Lily Lake Pavilion. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
  18. ^ "At the Lake Spa & Studio". At the Lake Spa & Studio. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
  19. ^ "Inside Out nature Centre". Inside Out nature Centre. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
  20. ^ "Home". Rockwood Park Campground. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
  21. ^ "Golf Rockwood | 18 hole Golf Course in the heart of Saint John, New Brunswick". Retrieved 2021-08-01.
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