Recreation Park (Vancouver) facts for kids

Recreation Park was a famous baseball park in Vancouver, British Columbia. It was the home field for a baseball team called the Vancouver Beavers. The Beavers played their games there from 1905 to 1912.

What Was Recreation Park?

Recreation Park was a special place where people watched baseball games. It was built in Vancouver, a big city in British Columbia, Canada. The park was home to the Vancouver Beavers, a team in the Northwestern League.

Recreation Park in 1907

Where Was the Park Located?

The baseball park was in downtown Vancouver. It was on a city block surrounded by several streets. These streets were Homer Street, Smithe Street, Hamilton Street, and Nelson Street. Today, this area is very close to where BC Place stadium is located.

Building a Baseball Home

The construction of Recreation Park happened very quickly. Workers built the park in just two months during early 1905. The very first baseball game was played there on May 11, 1905. In that game, the Vancouver team beat Victoria with a score of 4-2.

An advertisement for the opening day of Recreation Park

How Was the Park Designed?

The people who built the park wanted it to be the best in Western Canada. The main seating area, called the stand, was shaped like an "L." It had seats along Smithe Street and Homer Street. There was also a raised area around the field. Other seats, called bleachers, were along Smithe Street. Some people even said it was "the finest ball park west of Chicago!"

Home of the Vancouver Beavers

The Vancouver Beavers were one of the first teams in the new baseball league. They had a good run while playing at Recreation Park. The team won the league championship twice, in 1908 and again in 1911. After 1912, the Beavers moved to a new home called Athletic Park. They continued to win more championships there.

What Happened to Recreation Park?

After the baseball team moved, Recreation Park closed down. The land was cleared, and new buildings were constructed. Today, the area where the park once stood has office buildings. There is also a small public space called Yaletown Park in one corner.