Riverside Park (Guelph)
Riverside Park is an 80-acre park located by the northern part of Woolwich Street in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It is built around a portion of the Speed River that runs through Guelph.
History
Riverside Park opened in 1905 spanning 14.5 acres. Its development was related to the Guelph's now discontinued streetcar system. The park was a stop on one of the Guelph Radial Railway's streetcar line, and the company held a contest in 1905 to name the new attraction. The name “Riverside Park”, from the site's proximity to the Speed River, was the winning selection.The city had been encouraged to open a major park by prominent citizen James Walter Lyon, partly to increase volume for the streetcar operation. The property had been privately owned as the Lace Farm until it was acquired and modified by the city. The plan was successful for the radial railway. In early days, the park included an "ice-cream building, bandstand, swings, and zoo" according to records and public swimming by both sexes was encouraged. Dressing rooms were constructed.
Since its foundation the park has expanded to 80-acres, with many on-site features and has become a noted landmark and attraction in the city.
Features
Antique Carousel
The fully operational antique carousel designed by Allan Herschell in Riverside Park contains 3 rows consisting of 2 menagerie animals and 28 jumping horses. Four chariot carousels are evenly spaced among the horses and animals. This carousel is one of the few remaining antique wooden horse carousels in Canada and the United States as there are only 148 in existence. The City of Guelph bought it from Conklin Garrett traveling amusements in 1970 for $6000. It remained in operation until 1976 when it was closed for three years due to disrepair. In 1979, it reopened after a campaign in 1976 led by lawyer John Valeriote and local artist Ken Danby ensued to save the carousel. Numerous repairs and modifications over the years have helped to keep the carousel operational. For years, the carousel was fully dismantled before the winter months until 1999 when a permanent structure was built, including a mural painted by local artist, Greg Elliott 3 years later. It is operational from mid May to mid October for a small admission fee.Miniature Train
The "Riverside Express" is the miniature train found in Riverside Park. It is a fully operational mini replica of a 1950's locomotive. It's 650 m rounded triangular shaped track travels about 5–10 km/hour and is operational from mid May to mid October with a small admission fee.Floral Clock
The floral clock of Riverside Park is mechanized and fully functional, showcasing over 6000 plants. The only mechanized components seen from the exterior are its hands. It is 28 feet in diameter and displays numeric floral patterns on its face, each number spanning 4 feet. Each year floral patterns are changed to celebrate different events or people, and in winter the Arabic numbers are replaced with illuminated Roman numerals. In the start of 2011, a floral arrangement commemorating St. Joseph's health centre was made. The clock also exhibits a floral calendar that is changed daily.The floral clock was originally built in 1949 and rebuilt in 1955 according to the designs of John “Jock” Clark, the city's long-time park administrator. The floral clock at Riverside Park is the only patented floral clock in Canada.
The Model House
Near the west entrance to the park is a model of the first house built in the city of Guelph. John Galt built the original house in 1827 where he and his family held residence. The house, christened The Priory, was named after Charles Prior, one of the men that aided Galt in Guelph's founding. The Priory was a cabin made up of laterally stacked logs and served multiple purposes. It also functioned as a tavern, a post-office and in 1887 a railway station. A to-scale model of this house was built and is now on display behind a perimeter of fencing at Riverside Park. The model is scaled to a ratio of 1 ½ In. to the Ft.The Speed River
The Speed River runs alongside the parklands. The river provides many benefits to the ecosystem of the park. Such benefits include: filtration of the riparian zone, food and habitation, conservation, prevention of soil erosion, increases in aqueous oxygen levels and shade along the riverside which reduces water temperature. The use of chemical herbicides and pesticides is prohibited within the riparian zone in an effort to sustain this natural buffer.Riverside Park hosts activities such as paddleboat rides, fishing, dragon-boat races and ice skating by the Speed River. It also hosts non-profit charitable events.
Flora
The species of the plant life at Riverside Park include:- Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ – Giant Blue Hyssop
- Andropogon gerardi – Big Blue Stem
- Asclepias incarnata ‘Ice Ballet’ – White Swamp Milkweed
- Asclepias tuberosa – Butterfly Weed
- Aster × dumosus ‘Wood’s Purple’ – Hardy Aster
- Coreopsis ‘Galaxy’ – Hybrid Tickseed
- Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’ – Purple Cone Flower
- Gaillardia × grandifloraa ‘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, Autumn Sun Cone Flower, Cut-leaf/Lance-leaf Coneflower
- Schizachyrium scoparium – Little Blue Stem
Woody Plants
- Amelanchier sp., likely A. canadensis – Service Berry
- Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliantissima’ – Red Chokeberry
- Cercis canadensis - Redbud
- Cornus racemosa – Grey Dogwood or Cornus amomum – Silky Dogwood
- Cornus stolonifera / C. sericea – Red Osier Dogwood
- Lonicera involucrata – Twin Berry
- Sambucus pubens – Red American Elderberry
- Staphylea trifolia – American Bladder Nut
- Symphoricarpos sp. – may be S. albus - Snowberry, or S. orbiculatus, or one of the S. x doorenbosii hybrids – Coral berry
- Syringa vulgaris – Common Lilac
Activities
As of 2019, Riverside Park offers a leash free area, baseball diamonds, a playground, an area for disc golf, picnic tables, washrooms, a miniature train, walking trails, and a vintage carousel manufactured in 1919.Riverside Park's walking trails are connected to the surrounding neighborhoods, and to the City Centre. Paddleboat and pedal boat rides are available along the Speed River. The park also has a giant chessboard and a beach.
During the winter, Riverside Park offers activities such as cross-country skiing and outdoor ice skating on the Speed River.