| Rockwood Park | |
| Location: | Saint John, New Brunswick |
| Coordinates: | 45.3045°N -66.0594°W |
Rockwood Park is a city park in Saint John, New Brunswick. It is 2200acres in size, with ten lakes and 55 trails and footpaths. The park includes upland Acadian mixed forest, several hills and several caves, as well as freshwater lakes, with a trail network, and a golf course.
It is located in the eastern area of the North End and is one of Canada and New Brunswick's largest urban parks. It is also a Stonehammer Geopark site.
The park is open from dawn until dusk and has free parking. Visitors can enter and exit from either the Lake Drive at Lily Lake or Hawthorne Avenue Extension at Fisher Lakes. Paved pathways connect to amenities such as the Interpretation Centre, the Kiwanis Play Park, and the Bark Park.
Rockwood Park is located in Saint John, New Brunswick, just north from the Uptown region. The park is 2200acres in size and contains six natural lakes.[1] One of these lakes, Lily Lake, is a frequent boating and fishing spot used by visitors.[2]
Rockwood Park was designed in the 19th century by Calvert Vaux, one of the designers of Central Park in New York City.[3] Vaux's father had previously made a preliminary report for the park, which Vaux would work on after inheriting some of his father's clients after his death.[4] Initially, Rockwood Park was created around Lily Lake during the late 19th century, being named through a vote conducted for nearby citizens.[5]
Lily Lake was one of the first sources of fresh water for Saint John. It was hauled from the lake by tanks and sold for 1 cent a bucket. In 1907, a court battle ensued as to who had the rights to the ice in Lily Lake; the ice cutters or the skaters. Although the ice cutters had been granted permission to erect an ice block conveyor in previous years, the skaters won and for decades the lake was center for outdoor winter recreation.
In 1926, the speed skater Charles Gorman, won the World Speed Skating Championship on Lily Lake. It was estimated that 25,000 people turned out on February 7, 1926, to watch him take the championship, setting a world record in the 220 and 440 yard events.
Sitting on the shores of the Lily Lake in Rockwood Park is the Lily Lake Pavilion venue which has dining and spa options.
The Lily Lake Pavilion is a registered charity that provides educational and recreational programs for children, seniors and families in Saint John.