Larwill Park facts for kids

Larwill Park, also known as the Cambie Street Grounds, was once a busy park and sports field in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. For many years, from World War II until 1993, it was a major bus station for companies like Greyhound Bus Lines. After the buses moved, Larwill Park became a large parking lot. Today, the Vancouver Art Gallery plans to build its new museum right here.

Where is Larwill Park?

Larwill Park is a city block surrounded by Cambie, Dunsmuir, Beatty, and Georgia Streets. It was first planned in the 1880s when Vancouver was being surveyed. This area was Vancouver's second sports ground. The first one was at Brockton Point in what is now Stanley Park.

A Friendly Helper: Alfred Larwill

A man named Alfred Larwill, often called Al or Fred, lived in a house on the corner of the park. He was very kind and let sports teams use his toolshed to store equipment. He even let them use his dining room as a changing room. The park was later named Larwill Park in his honor.

A Place for Public Gatherings

Because it was located between the old downtown (around Gastown) and newer areas, Larwill Park became a popular spot for public meetings. One famous meeting by the Knights of Labor in 1907 led to some unrest in the city. The Beatty Street Drill Hall, which is across Beatty Street, was often used as a stage for these events.

Sports and Military Use

Throughout the year, teams played baseball, cricket, and lacrosse on the fields. The park also served as a training ground for soldiers. The first time soldiers gathered here was for the Boer War. It was also used for military training during World War I and World War II. In the 1930s, when many people were out of work, the site was used for large protests by unemployed people and workers' groups.

From Park to Bus Depot

In July 1943, during World War II, a special event was held to officially name the park after Al Larwill. He had passed away many years earlier in 1911. However, later that same year, the park was turned into a bus depot. This happened while many people who used the park for sports and politics were away fighting in the war.

Larwill Park and the 2010 Olympics

For many years, the lot was used for parking, especially for Canada Post trucks. It was also a common spot for film crews to set up. During the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Larwill Park was a key location for cultural events. It hosted many "nightly celebrations" even though it wasn't an official Olympic venue.

Events After the Olympics

On June 15, 2011, after Game 7 of the Stanley Cup playoffs, there was some unrest in downtown Vancouver. Crowds entered the Larwill Park lot, and some cars were damaged.

Future Home of the Vancouver Art Gallery

After the bus depot moved out in 1993, Larwill Park became the only empty public land in downtown Vancouver. Many ideas were suggested for what to do with the space, including building a new home for the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Plans for a New Museum

On April 24, 2013, the Vancouver City Council decided that the property would be used for a new Art Gallery building. On September 29, 2015, the Art Gallery showed off the designs for the new museum. These designs were created by famous architects Herzog & de Meuron. Moving to Larwill Park will allow the Art Gallery to double its exhibition space. Construction was planned to start in 2017, but it has been delayed until enough money is raised for the project.