Idylwild Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Idylwild Park |
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Entrance gate, Idylwild Park.
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| Type | Private park |
| Location | Cambridge, Ontario, Canada |
| Created | 1899 |
| Operated by | GP&H Street Railway |
| Status | Permanently closed in 1916 |
Idylwild Park was a fun place for people to visit a long time ago. It was a park located by the Speed River in what is now Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. People from all over Southwestern Ontario and the Golden Horseshoe would travel there by train.
The park was found between the towns of Preston and Hespeler. Today, this area is just north of where the MacDonald-Cartier Freeway crosses the river.
Contents
History of Idylwild Park
A Park for Train Travelers
Idylwild Park first opened in 1899. It was created by the GP&H Street Railway company. They wanted more people to ride their trains, especially on weekends! The park could only be reached by their Preston-Hespeler train line. This line also opened in 1899.
The Preston Junction connected this line to the Grand Trunk Railroad. People visiting the park were given special ribbons to wear. These ribbons showed they were park visitors and had traveled by train.
What Idylwild Park Looked Like
The park was a beautiful, wooded area with tall trees. It was a very popular spot for picnics and outdoor fun. People enjoyed dancing to popular music of the time. Sometimes, trains would bring hundreds of visitors from far away, like Hamilton.
Idylwild Park was built on both sides of the Speed River. It even included a small islet (a tiny island) in the middle. Wooden footbridges were built so people could walk across the river and to the islet. These bridges were taken apart in the fall to protect them from ice and floods. They were then put back together in the spring.
The park had many cool features for visitors. There was a place to buy snacks and drinks. It also had a baseball field and a natural spring for fresh water. There were two large pavilions, swings, boardwalks, and docks for boats.
Why It Was Called "Mosquito Park"
The park earned the funny nickname "Mosquito Park." This was because there were many mosquitos in the area! They loved the surrounding wetlands, which were perfect for them to live in.
The Park's Closure
In 1916, Idylwild Park closed for good. Several things likely led to its closure. More and more people started using automobiles to travel. This meant fewer people needed to take the train to the park. The First World War also began, changing people's focus. Plus, a new park called Riverside Park opened nearby in Preston. All these reasons together led to Idylwild Park closing its gates.
Idylwild Park Today
Today, the land where Idylwild Park once stood looks very different. The old gates, pavilions, and bridges are all gone. The area has either grown over with plants, eroded away, or been developed for other uses. But guess what? The mosquitos are still there!
A part of the old park site is now a conservation area. It's along the southern bank of the Speed River. The Grand River Conservation Authority owns and manages this protected land. The City of Cambridge's Mill Run Trail now passes through this area. This trail uses the path where the old train tracks used to be.
The islet and most of the northern bank of the river are now private property. A nearby neighborhood, Idylwild Estates, is named after the old park.
