Cypress Trails Park

Located at Woodgreen Dr and Woodley Dr.

I have a confession: I didn't go to the last park until Easter. It was just so far up the hill and it was tiny and it was Cypress Trails Park, which means it was basically, just Cypress Falls Park and not even anything different from the rest of that forest. Right? Wrong!

Not only does Cypress Trails Park rock the district's most awesome park sign, it does it's own thing.

I arrived at this park via the Cypress Falls trails, but not as directly as I'd hoped. I got lost and ended up wandering around the undeveloped British Properties roads for a while, before taking a trail I'd hoped would bring me to a real road. It did me one better.

That trail opened up to a sunny clearing.

I liked the light, so I stopped and took a picture.

Then I noticed the playground in the background. I had arrived!

This is the best picture that I got of the park, because there were many young kids (one of them is seen climbing on a ladder here) with their parents watching them closely, so I couldn't stay for long. I made the comment "I hate it when there are kids on playgrounds" and immediately felt awful. It means I can't play or take pictures properly, though. I'll just have to trust my observations of the kids' fun and you'll just have to trust me that this is a really excellent playground.

There were actually multiple groups of kids there. I feel like this is how I should feel after discovering the newest, coolest underground dance club at the age of 20, but instead, I feel like I found something incredible with this park.

PPR
Good: playground, a lot of sun, benches for parental supervision
Bad: at the very top of a huge hill, oddly popular
7.5/10

Whytecliff Park [PPR: Local's Perspective]

Located at the very end of Marine Dr.

Throughout the summer of my epic journey, people have been asking me if I'd found the perfect park yet. I told them I already knew which one it was, but I was saving it for last. I knew right from the beginning that, at least for me, Whytecliff Park is the perfect 10. Let me explain why.

At the very end of Marine Drive exists a park that has everything. Since it has everything (I'm serious about that, by the way), Whytecliff Park is really big. It's got a whole ton of grassy space that wouldn't be good for any formal sports because it's on a little bit of a slant, but is perfect for casual games of all sorts.

The grass is really nice and soft, and full of surprises. Despite wide open spaces, there's also a lot of big trees in Whytecliff Park. Some of them are climbable if you've got some skills in that area.

Also pictured above is a picnic shelter. There's only two of these in all of West Vancouver (the other one is at John Lawson Park), which is a shame because they're great for so many things. There's a barbeque and a bunch of tables under there, making it the ideal location to hold an evening party in the spring or summer. But it's also great for colder rainy days when you want to be out of the rain but still outside. I haven't actually done this yet, but I'd really like to bring a set of speakers here on a day when it's pouring rain and have a dance party on the tables. Basically, picnic shelter = party central.

Of course, the perfect park would not be complete without a playground and kids playing on it.

This picture is terrible because it's far away and has a tree in the way, but you can still tell the playground exists. It's got a motorcycle rocker, a train, tall swings, and a big structure with slides, tic tac toe, bridges, and all that good stuff. It's not the best playground I've ever been to, but it's definitely up there. Besides, artificial play stuff isn't really the point of Whytecliff.

The point of WhyteCLIFF Park is the CLIFFS! You're probably wondering where they are at this point. Here they are:

The cliffs are nice and rugged, just like a Howe Sound shoreline should be. They're full of crevices to explore. I still find new things even after all these years of visiting. Despite all the chaos of the rocks, there's actually benches all over the cliffs. This is my favorite one:

It's one of the most ridiculously placed benches. You actually can't reach it safely without maintaining three points of contact. And obviously, it faces one of the many incredible views from the cliffs. This one is of Whyte Island and Passage Island. Other views feature Bowen Island's marina as well.

In between two cliffs, there's a spot that is known locally as "couple's beach".

It's hidden and the perfect size for two. If you ever happen to be trying to impress a hopeless romantic, then take them here. They'll love it. This park has always reminded me of something out of a movie set in the 50's where teenagers drive around in convertibles and go on dates.

Fun fact: Whytecliff is something out of a movie. A few things have been filmed here, including Scooby Doo. They built the haunted mansion up on the cliffs.

If you were thinking that couple's beach is a little small for your tastes, don't you worry. Just one more cliff over is Whyte Bay.

Hey look, sand! Unfortunately, the sand doesn't go too much further down the beach, but it's a great swimming spot nonetheless. I've swam here many times and actually enjoyed it. That's a lot coming from me. I hate swimming.

Because I hate swimming, I have never tried scuba diving, but everyone says that Whytecliff Park is one of the best dive spots in North America. It's Canada's first marine protected area. It even has its own tank at the Vancouver Aquarium. The Day I went to take pictures, there must have been a hundred people in scuba gear around. A lot of them were there taking lessons. The sheltered bay is great for beginners.

Whyte Bay is also a great one for collecting beach glass, particularly at lower tides. The tiny pebbles that are underwater in the picture are perfect for grinding down broken glass.

Another great thing about low tide at Whytecliff is the opportunity it provides to explore Whyte Island.

When the tide is low, it exposes a land bridge all the way out to that island. I won't tell you much about the island, but I will say that it's worth exploring. Make sure you check the tides when planning your visit.

Whytecliff park also has a tennis court,

decently clean washrooms that stay open until 10pm during the summer,

and a cafe!

The cafe is closed for the winter, but the food is fantastic when it's available during the summer, and they even have live music on the patio occasionally.

Until just recently, I thought that the one thing Whytecliff Park was missing was trails. But at the beginning of this past summer, I discovered a whole new section that I never knew existed.

The part that I never knew about was the giant area across the street from the main part. As you can see, it has a series of trails running through it. There's trailheads at the end of Hycroft Road and the park's overflow parking lot. I discovered them by accident when I was walking with my little brother half an hour before we had to be home for dinner. I came back the very next day to finish exploring the area.

What I discovered was a series of narrow trails (that you're allowed to let your dogs off-leash on) with the occasional bench off to the side.

One of those benches happens to feature one of my all-time favorite bench quotes:

"Try to be one of the people on whom nothing is lost." -Henry James

Peter Blutenhuis, lover of the sea & this park

The only problem I have with these trails is that they don't lead to any views. The benches were probably originally placed facing views, but the trees have since grown taller and blocked them out. But how much can trees really upset anyone? Besides, what the trails do lead to is the main part of Whytecliff Park: my favorite place in the whole world. 

PPR

Good: fields, picnic shelter, climbing trees for skilled climbers, playground, cliffs, well-placed benches, spectacular views, swimming beach, beach glass, scuba diving, island, tennis courts, washrooms, cafe, trails, teeming with adventure

Bad: I'm not allowed to live there

10/10

Horseshoe Bay Park [PPR: Local's Perspective]

Located at Bay St and Royal Ave.

As the centerpiece of Horseshoe Bay village, this park is integral to the community. Every resident knows the famous propeller fountain.

But this park is important to locals and visitors alike. It's the perfect place to exhaust your kids and kill some time while you're waiting for the ferry.

Behind the ferry terminal and Swells Marina, there is a fantastic view of Bowyer Island. You'd never know it on the day I took pictures if it weren't for the public binoculars. Trust me, there is something to look at with them.

There's a very nice place to look at this rumored view too.

Besides the average park benches, Horseshoe Bay Park has these exceptionally comfortable and attractive chairs.

But if you're not the type to sit back and watch things happen, there's a place you can go to get closer. You can see a pier heading out into the water in the background on the left of the picture above. There's a floating water taxi dock at the end of it:

The coast guard keeps a boat there. That's exciting. You're welcome to go down and loiter there.

But I mentioned something about tired kids and I haven't come back to that yet. When I was a kid, the playground at this park was one of my favorites. That playground has since been replaced, but in essence, it's still the same.

It's still got a teeter-totter, swings, a pirate ship, and an awesome slide (the slide was the best). They've also added some of those spinny bucket things that are always really fun. It's a solid playground.

If man made structures don't satisfy your needs to climb on things, there's a whole row of EasyClimb Trees (trademark: Nina King) in the southwest corner .

And it wouldn't be Horseshoe Bay Park without the whale.

He's looking pretty normal these days, but this guy's had many paint jobs over the years. He's been an orca, a work of first nation's style art, and even nemo! In the summer, you can step on buttons to make him shoot water out of his blow hole.

That pretty much makes up for this park's biggest shortcoming. Although Horseshoe Bay Park is waterfront, it is not a beach.

There's a little bit of sand to walk on at low tide, but Horseshoe Bay spends most of its time underwater, putting a damper on any exploring. If you're not the type to let a little bit of water ruin your fun, I suggest you let it when you're at Horseshoe Bay. I was once paid $10 to jump off the water taxi dock, and I really wish I hadn't done it. Thanks to the ferries, private yachts and rental boats, Horseshoe Bay has some of the most disgusting water I've ever seen. It's full of engine oil and sewage. Don't touch it!

PPR
Good: place to wait for the ferry, view, nice seats, water taxi dock, playground, easyclimb trees, whale, washrooms
Bad: it's a little dirty, no beach, absolutely no swimming
7.5/10

Tantalus Park [PPR: Local's Perspective]

Located at Nelson Ave and Marine Dr.

I may be a little biased since Tantalus Park is the closest park to my house, but I don't really like it. I've tried to enjoy myself there because it's so convenient, but it's honestly a bit depressing.

There's only swings for babies, the slide is two feet tall, and they didn't even bother to paint the train. Oh well, at least there's a playground. I bet you could impress an 18 month old with it.

The rest of the park that isn't covered in rotting leaves consists of a flat grass field cut into the steep slope up from Horseshoe Bay. It looks like it would be good for sports if it weren't so small and if the ground wasn't soggy most of the year. It has got a picnic bench, though.

The bench moves around a lot. Although I've never seen people moving it, I've never seen it in the same place twice either. It's a lost cause if you ask me, though. The field is surrounded by trees and steep slopes on all four sides. The best place for it would probably be dead center, but it's usually in one of the corners.

PPR
Good: playground equipment, picnic bench, flat ground in a hilly area
Bad: playground equipment is lame, squishy field, not much light
5/10

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

Burley Drive Park

Located at Burley Dr & Mathers Ave.

Burley Drive Park is another one of those playground/ tennis court combinations tucked just underneath the highway like Cedaredale and Westridge.  From my experience with those other two, I assumed that the playground equipment at Burley Drive would be equally skimpy. Fortunately, I was wrong.

Whoever designed the Burley Drive Park playground went all out.

There's swings for big kids

and for babies.

There are not one, but two teeter-totters,

a set of bars that would probably be a lot more fun for people more skilled than Douglas and I,

and a pirate ship!!!

There's also a tennis court, but those all look the same and I don't care about them much.

I know several families with young kids who end up as regulars at certain playgrounds. They're all starting to get bored with the ones they know, but I don't think any of them know about Burley Drive Park. This is a hidden gem of a playground that could be a great change of pace for a 5 year old who is so over John Lawson.

PPR
Good: playground, tennis court, on a quiet street
Bad: no slide
7/10

Ambleside Park

Everybody knows where Ambleside is. Everybody knows what's there. I work at Ambleside. Let me tell you how over Ambleside I am.

There's a bunch of sports fields. You can play sports there.

There's a snack bar with somewhat satisfying food for sale, but only during the summer. In the same building there are chronically damp change rooms. The building is basically delicious.

There's a playground. It's not my favorite playground, but it's alright I guess.

There's lifeguards on the beach to watch people swim in the swimming area. It's kind of nice that they make sure you don't die, I suppose.

There's a pier where people fish and a floating dock that only floats at high tide. There's also a fountain over in that area that kids like to swim in instead of the ocean.

And then there's Hollyburn Sailing Club. That's where I work. It's pretty great, actually. You can take sailing lessons there. Those are fun. You should try one.

But yeah... Ambleside... I've been there pretty much every day this summer. Who even cares anymore? Does somebody else want to review Ambleside for me?

Normanby Park

Located on Pinecrest Dr.

In an area like the British Properties where most parts of it are not designed for kids, a place like Normanby Park is a breath of fresh air.

When I saw this park on the map, I assumed that the promised playground equipment would be super lame. I'd been to a playground in the British Properties before in a park that was much bigger than Normanby Park, and that playground was just three dinky little structures. My jaw dropped when I came around the corner and saw this:

There's slides, monkey bars, a flying fox, and a bunny to ride. If you think bunnies are stupid, then there's another choice of animal to ride that I didn't get a picture of. I believe it might have been a whale. And can we talk about the colours? These aren't the normal bright primary colours that we're used to seeing on playgrounds. These ones are a little more subdued and very pretty.

Most importantly, just look at this flower swing:

Isn't it precious?

The other half of this park is occupied by tennis courts.

There's two of them cut out of the steep slope of the land. There's also a list of rules on the gate that make it seem like there have been issues with sharing the courts in the past, such as "If there are players waiting, please limit your game to 30 minutes." Nina and I have seen a lot of tennis courts in our travels, but we've only ever seen tennis players once or twice. We were just having a conversation pondering the question, "what time do the tennis players show up?" when two groups of players entered the park. Tennis players show up at 6:35pm. I'd recommend that players show up to Normanby Park at 6:30 to beat the after dinner rush.

PPR
Good: amazing playground, tennis courts, well-maintained, located where it's needed
Bad: steep hill, only one swing in the playground, not enough tennis courts (what?!)
8/10

Erwin Park

Located on Erwin Dr.

I love getting to a park I've never been to before because of the surprise and feeling of discovery. I thought that Erwin Park was going to be like that, but when I walked around the corner of the hedge, I was instead hit by a wave of nostalgia. I had no idea that I'd been to this park before, but now I can remember visiting it once before. I went with my cousins to play on the playground.

It's a simple structure, but I remember having a great time on this playground. Unfortunately, I was not in the mood for a reincarnation of my childhood when I arrived at Erwin Park. I had already been to six parks that day and had been walking for a long time. All I wanted to do was sit, drink water, stare at the ocean, and relax. There is a bench next to the playground that looked great for parents to sit at while they watch their children play, but that's not quite what I was looking for.


I walked deeper into the park and immediately found exactly the place I was looking for.

Not just a bench, but a picnic bench! I always get excited to see picnic benches, even though I usually don't have a picnic with me. The tables are just so much better for sitting on, and the benches make great foot rests. You can spread all your stuff out beside you on the table and lie down if you want to. The merits of a picnic bench are infinite, and Erwin Park has one that's placed perfectly for viewing the classic West Vancouver waterfront view of Point Grey.

However, the benches in Erwin Park aren't all bad. I found another candidate for the best bench inscription there.

Here time stands still

and love and peace prevail

Ray & Ann Frost

I don't know what it is about this one, but I really like it. There's something about how it makes me feel. It's a nice sentiment and also very accurate. Erwin Park was the perfect spot to rest and regain my ability to move after a long walk.

PPR

Good: playground, picnic bench, nice view, well maintained, plenty of shade and sunlight, no hill getting there

Bad: playground not colourful, small & simple
6/10

Cedaredale Park

Located at 3rd St and Inglewood Ave.

Cedaredale is full of delightful surprises everywhere you look. Right at the entrance, there's Blues Clues stickers on the "Dog Owners..." sign. That's cute, but not nearly as exciting as what you'll see once you walk down the corridor of hedges and around the corner:

Guys, there's a spaceship in the playground, you guys. Can we talk about this? That's the coolest thing to happen in a low-budget playground ever. There's also a tiny slide and a few little diggers. But more importantly, there's a spaceship in the playground. 

One of my favorite sort of park surprises is the cool graffiti sort. This park doesn't have much in the way of spray painted masterpieces, but it does have this little guy:

He hides behind some trees, but he's just there to make sure you don't hurt yourself. He's super friendly. Look for him if you visit Cedaredale park. 

Cedaredale Park also has a tennis court. Like most tennis courts, it has a couple of basketball hoops. But the special thing about this one is that there's a full basketball court.

It has keys, and a center circle. No 3-point line, but at least the two hoops are actually opposite each other. So when you tire of playing half court, make a trip to Cedaredale Park.

That's all, but every part of Cedaredale Park is used wisely. With it's limited space, it provides the perfect balance of entertainment for children, teens, adults, and childish adults. 

PPR
Good: spaceship, smiley dude, tennis court, full basketball court, blues clues stickers
Bad: right beside the highway (noisy)
7/10

Irwin Park

Located at 24th St and Kings Ave.

So it turns out that the playground for Irwin Park Elementary School is actually a municipal park. I arrived there shortly after 3pm on a sunny school day, so there were kids everywhere. That's why there's no pictures.

Irwin Park is full of playground equipment, but not the typical sort. Things like slides and swings have one basic function. Although many children do get creative by climbing up slides and hanging across swings on their stomachs, there is definitely a 'right way' to play on that sort of equipment. While those sorts of things are included in Irwin Park's play scape, most of the equipment has no obvious 'right way' of being used.

There's a construction of arches and ropes, and a section of a dead tree on its side. These pieces make up the majority of the playground, and they capture the imaginations of children. Promotion on creative play is essential to the development of a child, and Irwin Park has got that covered.

Beyond the playground, the park doesn't have much in it. There's several large trees that provide shade in the area, and a structure with benches under it that does absolutely nothing to block rain. The former is good, but the latter seems a little bit silly.

So when you tire of slides and swings, visit Irwin Park!

PPR
Good: creative playground, big trees
Bad: shelter that doesn't shelter, very busy
7/10

Hillside Park

Located at Queens Ave and Orchard Way.

Why should you go to Hillside Park? Because this is the view from the tire swing:

A view like that and a tire swing is enough to sell me on a park. If you can see the view from the tire swing, that's awesome.

The rest of the playground is awesome too. It's got everything you could want in a playground from a slide, to a bridge, to a flying fox. For parents there's a bench perfectly located for supervising kids from. Plus, that tire swing view is available from the bench as well.  The bench is also good for forgetting your children's clothing on.

 

Just above the playground is a small plateau. Flat, grassy space is hard to come by in an area where things are named Hillside, and Hillside Park has some. It's the perfect place to kick a ball around or to extend the boundaries of a game of tag. It's even got a fence to make sure that nobody falls off the 3-foot drop.

Hillside Park sits on the site of where Hillside Secondary School used to be. It was once the perfect place to teenagers to learn, but now it's the perfect place for kids to play. It's fun, safe, and not too unpleasant for their parents. So whether you live in the area or you're looking for a change of pace from you own local playground, grab your 6-year-old and make a trip to Hillside Park.

PPR
Good: playground, view, flat field
Bad: not much shade
7.5/10