We see the beauty of Riverside Park in Spring
Riverside Park in
downtown Kamloops has been a great attraction for summertime and water
activities for many years. Our summers
usually begin early and end well into September but our time spent down in the
park in mid-April appeared to be rather quiet but a hot summer day.
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| Boats on Thompson River at Riverside Park |
There is no doubt that we’ve
had some great weather in past Aprils but this one seems to be breaking records for
hot days and many are getting out there to enjoy those days at the local parks.
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| Spring growth in Riverside Park |
Riverside Park was
officially named in 1933 but used for many years previous to that. The workers who were building the Canadian
Pacific Railway back as far as 1885 used the park as a campsite.
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| Riverside Park history |
This is a photo taken of
Riverside Park in 1939 which shows a beautiful park down by the Thompson River
and some of its’ history. The park went
through many very interesting changes over the early years and we are very
fortunate to still have this beautiful gem as part of our downtown area.
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| Variety Kids Waterpark |
The Variety Kids Waterpark
has not opened yet this season, but there were some wishing that it was. This waterpark replaced a wading pool and the Centennial Pool
of long ago where many of us enjoyed spending our summer days when we were kids. It was warmer than the river and easier for
swim lessons. I believe it was built as
a celebration of the 1958 Centennial.
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| Lush and green Riverside Park |
The park makes a great
meeting place for family gatherings and picnics where the kids can play on
playground equipment to waterparks and others can sit in the shade of these big
old trees and enjoy their time spent at the park. So many things happen here, like Music in the
Park in July and August and Ribfest in August to just name a couple of them.
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| Tranquility of Riverside Park |
Several events are held
here every year and to see some of these celebrations of the past for the Bicentennial Day,
Canada Day, special events like the MS Walk (to be held May 1, 2016) and Remembrance Day, plus many more Summerevents, click on them to take you to that page.
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| The Rivers Trail begins here |
The Rivers Trail is a
legacy of the 2000 Millenium. It has a
continuous trail between Westsyde and the Yellowhead Bridge which brings these
neighbourhoods together and celebrates the importance of the Thompson Rivers to Kamloops.
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| Uji Friendship Garden |
In 1990, Uji, Japan
became a sister city to Kamloops and Mayor Philip Gaglardi and the mayor of Uji
signed friendship agreements to enhance relationships and understandings
between the citizens of both cities.
There have been many cultural exchanges done between the two cities with music, art and sports
groups over the years.
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| Entrance to Uji Friendship Garden |
Mayor Mel Rothenburger
reaffirmed this agreement with the Mayor of Uji on the tenth anniversary in
2000 and a tree was planted with Mayor Peter Milobar to commemorate the
twentieth anniversary. The Uji
Friendship Garden is a favourite spot where local high school grad classes come
to take their photos.
There are several areas of the Riverside Park to visit and be enjoyed including the Rose Garden, tennis courts, a concession and the pier has a great view of the Thompson Rivers with Mt. Peter and Mt. Paul as a backdrop.
