Glenmore Park

Located at Bonnymuir Dr and Glenmore Dr.

If you're looking for a pleasant, well thought out park that's fun for the whole family in the eastern British Properties, look no further than Glenmore Park. Seriously, it's the only park in the whole area that's more than a bunch of trees.

The park greets you with an idyllic grassy slope with the occasional tree casting dramatic shadows on the ground. There were several joggers passing through on the trails.

I was feeling good about this park until I saw the playground equipment:

I was ready to be disappointed with yet another park only just barely following through on its promise of playground equipment, and sing the praises of this spinny bucket thing

(which actually is really fun), when I noticed this behind some trees:

Folks, Glenmore Park has a real live actual playground. I haven't even got pictures of all of it. Get excited!

It's even got one of those toy diggers. My little brothers used to think those were the coolest things ever invented.

This park is pretty manufactured, but there's a little bit of wildlife left. There's a creek running through the middle of it, and the natural vegetation around that has been left intact. That vegetation includes trees! Trees that you can climb if you're good.

But if you don't like nature, there's a bridge over the creek so you don't have to touch it.

PPR
Good: grass, creek, trees, playground, tennis court, right on a bus route
Bad: um... there could always be more trees, I'm not sure
8.5/10

Ballantree Park

Access via Kildonan Rd.

At the north western tip of West Vancouver civilization sits Ballantree Park. I'd like to thank my mom for driving me up there, because it is seriously out of the way.

As with most of the land that far up the mountains that isn't covered in road or mansion, the park consists mostly of dense forest. It is entirely wild, except for the narrow trail that winds through the thick bush.

The trail is well maintained and an easy walk provided you're looking where you're going. This would not be a trail to walk at night or if you are blind. But if you pay attention enough to not trip over roots and rocks, Ballantree Park provides an easy and pleasant walk through the woods.

I caution visitors not to look for an end to this trail. The trail does not end when the park ends. According to the map, it actually leads all the way to Hollyburn Lodge (in Cypress Bowl's cross country skiing area). Turn around when you feel like it, not when it looks like you should. 

I didn't go very far because I was on my own and there was a bear warning sign at the trail head. Even though I only walked for about 10 minutes, I still saw some beautiful corners of the wildnerness.

I hope to be able to drag a friend up this hill and see more of it someday.

PPR
Good: nice scenery, well maintained trail, peaceful and quiet, perfect for forest bathing
Bad: good luck finding it, narrow trail with tripping hazards
6/10