Riverside Park (Guelph) facts for kids
Riverside Park is a large park in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It covers 80 acres (about 32 hectares) and is found near the northern part of Woolwich Street. The park is built around a section of the Speed River, which flows right through Guelph. It's a popular spot for fun and relaxation!
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Park History: How Riverside Park Started
Riverside Park first opened its gates in 1905. Back then, it was much smaller, only about 14.5 acres. The park's creation was linked to Guelph's old streetcar system. The Guelph Radial Railway, which was like an early version of today's Guelph Transit, had a streetcar stop at the park.
In 1905, the railway company held a contest to name this new attraction. "Riverside Park" was chosen because of its close location to the Speed River. A well-known citizen, James Walter Lyon, encouraged the city to open a big park. He hoped it would also bring more riders to the streetcars. The land was once a private farm called Lace Farm before the city bought and changed it.
The plan worked well for the streetcar company. In its early days, the park had an ice-cream building, a bandstand for music, swings, and even a small zoo! People were encouraged to swim in the river, and changing rooms were built for them. Since then, the park has grown to 80 acres. It now has many cool features and is a famous landmark in the city.
Cool Features at Riverside Park
The Amazing Floral Clock
Riverside Park has a special floral clock that really works! It's made with over 6,000 plants. The only moving parts you can see are its hands. This huge clock is 28 feet wide, and its numbers, made of flowers, are each 4 feet tall.
Every year, the flower designs on the clock change to celebrate different events or people. In winter, the flower numbers are replaced with glowing Roman numerals. In 2011, there was a flower design honoring St. Joseph's health center. The clock also has a floral calendar that is updated daily.
The floral clock was first built in 1949 and then rebuilt in 1955. John "Jock" Clark, who was the city's park administrator for a long time, designed it. This floral clock at Riverside Park is the only one in Canada that has a special patent!
The Model of Guelph's First House
Near the west entrance of the park, you can find a model of the very first house built in the city of Guelph. John Galt built the original house in 1827. He and his family lived there. The house was called The Priory, named after Charles Prior, who helped Galt found Guelph.
The Priory was a cabin made of logs stacked sideways. It was used for many things! It was a tavern, a post office, and even a railway station in 1887. A smaller, scaled-down model of this important house is now on display at Riverside Park. It's behind a fence and shows what the original house looked like.
The Speed River: A Natural Wonder
The Speed River flows right next to Riverside Park. This river helps the park's environment in many ways. It helps clean the land near its banks and provides homes and food for animals. The river also helps prevent soil from washing away. It adds oxygen to the water and provides shade, which keeps the water cool. To protect this natural area, no chemical weed killers or bug sprays are allowed near the river.
Riverside Park offers many fun activities on the Speed River. You can go paddleboating, fishing, or watch exciting dragon-boat races. In winter, you can even go ice skating on the river! The park also hosts events for good causes.
Plants and Flowers at Riverside Park
Riverside Park is home to many beautiful plants and flowers. Here are some of the species you might see:
- Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ – Giant Blue Hyssop
- Andropogon gerardi – Big Blue Stem
- Asclepias incarnata ‘Ice Ballet’ – White Swamp Milkweed
- Asclepias tuberosa – Butterfly Weed
- Aster x dumosus ‘Wood’s Purple’ – Hardy Aster
- Coreopsis ‘Galaxy’ – Hybrid Tickseed
- Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’ – Purple Cone Flower
- Gaillardia x grandiflora ‘Oranges And Lemons’ – Blanket Flower
- Hypericum calycinum ‘Baby Lion’ – St. John's Wort
- Liatris spicata ‘Alba’ – White Blazing Star
- Liatris spicata ‘Kobold’ – Blazing Star
- Rudbeckia laciniata ‘Herbstonne’ – Green-headed Coneflower
- Schizachyrium scoparium – Little Blue Stem
Trees and Shrubs at Riverside Park
The park also has many different types of trees and shrubs. These woody plants add to the park's natural beauty:
- Amelanchier sp. – Service Berry
- Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliantissima’ – Red Chokeberry
- Cercis canadensis - Redbud
- Cornus racemosa – Grey Dogwood
- Cornus stolonifera / C. sericea – Red Osier Dogwood
- Lonicera involucrata – Twin Berry
- Sambucus pubens – Red American Elderberry
- Staphylea trifolia – American Bladder Nut
- Symphoricarpos sp. – Snowberry or Coralberry
- Syringa vulgaris – Common Lilac
Fun Activities at Riverside Park
Riverside Park offers lots of activities for everyone! As of 2019, you can find:
- A leash-free area for dogs.
- Baseball diamonds for games.
- A playground for kids.
- An area for disc golf.
- Picnic tables for outdoor meals.
- Washrooms.
- A miniature train ride.
- Walking trails.
- A vintage carousel from 1919!
The park's walking trails connect to nearby neighborhoods and the City Centre. You can rent paddleboats and pedal boats to explore the Speed River. There's also a giant chessboard and a beach area. In winter, Riverside Park is great for cross-country skiing and ice skating on the Speed River.
Special Events at Riverside Park
Riverside Park hosts many exciting events throughout the year!
Canada Day Celebration
Every year, Riverside Park celebrates Canada Day with a big event. You can enjoy carousel rides, train rides, and even pony rides! There's live music, a petting zoo, and a bouncy castle. Kids love the gigantic slides and face painting. You can also watch duck races, see art in the park, and learn from environment displays. Of course, there are plenty of food stands. The day ends with a spectacular fireworks show!
New Year's Eve Fireworks
Riverside Park also hosts an annual fireworks display for New Year's Eve. Everyone who comes can ride the carousel for free! As it gets dark, a Festive Light Display turns on. The park lights up with figures of Santa, reindeer, snowmen, and carolers. At midnight, amazing fireworks light up the sky!
Multicultural Festival
For over 25 years, Guelph has held a free Multicultural Festival at Riverside Park. This annual event takes place over a weekend in June. Local businesses help sponsor the festival, which celebrates Guelph's diverse cultures. An award is given to a student, person, or group that helps promote peace and understanding between different cultures. This festival can attract about 20,000 people over two days!
Ribfest: A Tasty Event
Guelph has hosted an annual 3-day Ribfest at Riverside Park for over ten years. The Rotary Club of Guelph-Trillium started this event. The money raised goes to different charities. Guelph's Ribfest is often sponsored by local businesses and larger companies like Sleeman Breweries. Besides tasting delicious ribs and watching contests, you can enjoy live entertainment and a classic car show. Fans can even meet members of the Guelph Storm hockey team! On one occasion, almost 50,000 visitors came to Ribfest over three days.
Festival of Lights: Sparkles in The Park
The annual Festival of Lights, called "Sparkles in The Park," happens at Riverside Park. It usually starts in mid-December and is open every night from 5:30 PM. The event kicks off with an opening celebration, including a visit from Santa Claus! It ends with a huge fireworks display on New Year's Eve, which always draws a big crowd. The Rotary Club of Guelph organizes this event to support their chosen charities. The park is decorated with beautiful Christmas lights throughout the season.
Pollinator Day: Helping Nature
Pollinator Day is an event led by Pollination Guelph, an environmental group. This group works to protect our natural environment. On Pollinator Day, they spread awareness and hold workshops to teach people. They share general knowledge about how pollination works. They also show how to attract birds and insects that help pollinate plants. You can learn how to build bee nests, raise butterflies, and tell the difference between pollinating and non-pollinating plants. At Riverside Park, participants also help plant many pollinating species!
