Victoria_Park_Re port Final.pdf - City of Charlottetown

VICTORIA PARK COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLAN
Final Report • June 2013
Role of the Park
What has clearly emerged throughout this comprehensive planning process is the
important role that Victoria Park plays for both the City of Charlottetown and the
Province of Prince Edward Island. Frequently referred to as the Crown Jewel of the City,
Victoria Park is many things to many different people, and fills a number of different
roles in the City’s open space system.
Provincial & Regional Context
Victoria Park is a provincially-owned, City of Charlottetown managed public open space
in the south end of the historic City. This 40 acre park is situated along the waterfront
with stunning views of the Harbour, Port-la-Joye - Fort Amherst, and downtown
Charlottetown’s historic skyline. The park is a unique recreational asset due to its
prominent waterfront location, mixture of cultural, active, and passive uses, and its
important historical origin.
Main access to the Park is along the aptly named Park Roadway, with circumnavigates
the southern edge of the Park. Access to the ball fields is typically made off of Brighton
Road, along the northwest boundary of the Park. The Park is situated on Provinciallyowned
land, but managed by the City under the Victoria Park and Promenade Bylaw.
Cultural Heritage Role
Victoria Park is one of Canada’s oldest urban parks, and its history is inextricably linked
to the history of Prince Edward Island. The establishment of the park through an act
of legislation gifted the citizens of Prince Edward Island with a valuable asset, and the
community value of the Park has only increased since its establishment. One of the
most common colloquialisms for the Park is “Charlottetown’s Crown Jewel”, and it is not
an exaggeration to place significant emphasis on the cultural importance of the park to
the community. Also of importance to consider in the future planning of the site is the
protection of historic viewscapes. These views offer a connection to the old and the
new within the City of Charlottetown. The connection of Fort Edward out to Port-la-
Joye / Fort Amherst and the views out to the water and east towards the 500 Lot Area
offer visitors a different perspective of the City and can be considered important views
to protect that may need further exploration and interpretation.
Victoria Park, through its mixture of passive, historic, and active assets provides a
multi-faceted visitor experience. The park not only provides the opportunity to provide
valuable natural habitat in an urban context, but it has preserved key historic and
archaeological assets as well.
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