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Online Heritage Inventory

Minoru Park

General Information
Thumbnail photograph of Minoru Park
Click to see full image
Type of Resource: Landscape
Common Name: Minoru Park
Address: Gilbert Road and Granville Avenue
Neighbourhood (Planning Area Name): City Centre
Construction Date: 1907
Current Owner: Municipal Government
Designated: No

Statement of Significance
Description of Site
Minoru Park is a 45 acre recreational and cultural park site in the centre of Richmond. This large green space is enclosed by development on the streets around its edges, and contains recreational and arts facilities, civic facilities, playfields, gardens, and open space.

 Statement of Values
The heritage value of Minoru Park is due in part to its historic association to events and periods which have influenced the development of Richmond as a city. Originally part of Sam Brighouse’s property the park’s history spans and chronicles early settlement and land acquisition in Richmond, aviation history, the social legacy of the Minoru racetrack, democratic and civic processes, and the design and planning of an important city park.
Equally significant is the physical evolution of the park beginning in 1907 and resulting in a major public open space with a wide diversity of uses. Over time, its landscape has accumulated features associated with different uses, designers, planners and local government decision-making. There are trees that date from the days of the Minoru Racetrack, developed in 1909. In the 1950s, the new planning department approved a plan for the area which included a commercial district, large multi-use park and civic functions to provide the setting for the development of a true community focal area.
Minoru Park has cultural and social heritage value, functioning as an important gathering place for the community, and its civic and recreational facilities have accommodated a variety of activities. Serviced by the B.C. Electric Railway, Minoru racetrack became the centre for social life in early Richmond, and the City Hall has been associated with this area since the early part of the 20th century. Throughout its history, the park has provided its grounds, buildings and sports facilities for many community events. It is a diverse, layered landscape that continues to be well used, and it is symbolic of the city’s determination to maintain open space in the centre of the city.

 Character Defining Elements
Key elements that define the heritage character of this site include:
· The overall pattern of development, with street frontage devoted to civic and commercial uses and green open space in the interior is still being followed in park development throughout Richmond
· The classic city park features of Minoru Park which combines sports fields and recreational facilities with open green space, water features, lakes, gardens and walking paths
· The variety of landscape features found in the park, as illustrated by its formal gardens, allees of trees, natural planted areas, contemporary plaza design, and contemporary playground design complete the features of this diverse park area.
· Remnant tree planting that indicates the location of the Minoru racetrack oval and the pattern of early tree planting that extended from Municipal Hall down Granville Avenue
· The park’s built facilities including a cultural centre, pool, clubhouse, theatre, hospital, and fire hall
· City designated heritage resources Minoru Chapel and Pierrefonds Gardens
· An original slough which has become a drainage canal and a prominent park feature
· Its location in the centre of Richmond within a heavily built up urban area

 History
Minoru Park is a 45 acre recreational and cultural park site in the centre of Richmond. This large green space is enclosed by development on the streets around its edges, and contains recreational and arts facilities, civic facilities, playfields, gardens, and open space.

 Architectural Significance
(No information available)

 Landscape Significance
Landscape Element
Public Park.

 Design Attributes
Many diverse individuals and groups have had an influence on the design and development of Minoru Park. The final incarnation of the park is the result of many years of development and change. Landscape architect Clive Justice and the firm of Desmond Muirhead was responsible for much of the initial vision and design work, while the firms of Tattersfield Kovacs and Gibbon, and CBA Engineering developed the Minoru Lakes area based on early plans. The City of Richmond Parks Planning Departments have also been instrumental in the development and design of the park. The contribution of ordinary citizens cannot be overlooked, whether they are protesting the cutting of trees, volunteering on commissions or just giving their opinion.
Much of Minoru Park is a classic park development comprised of sports fields and facilities combined with open green space, water features and gardens. There is a wide mix of uses on the site, resulting in very densely developed areas. Some of this development is directly related to the civic centre/open space concept of the original plan, such as the Arts Centre, theatre, hospital and fire hall; other development such as the housing is not related to park functions. Much of this development defines the edges of the park. Understanding the problem of visual access that this created, in 1983 planning staff recommended the acquisition of the residential lots along Westminster Highway to create a more open edge. This was not adopted, and Westminster Highway is now a heavily developed park edge.
Minoru Boulevard has bisected the pattern of the early tree planting that extended from Municipal Hall down Granville Avenue to the grandstand. A tree survey dates these trees, which include a mixture of elms and oaks, from about 1925. The remnant tree planting that indicates the location of the old oval racetrack has been dated as being planted at approximately the same time, and is clearly visible on site and on old plans and photographs. Other patterns of tree planting, such as those along Granville Avenue, Gilbert Road, and internally on the site, date from a much later time, probably during the initial development of the park in the 1960’s and 1970’s.
In addition to the built edges and the areas dedicated to active sports, the park has a vast amount of open space, comprised of the designed Minoru Lakes area, an open green, and planted edges, connected by a pedestrian circulation system. An early slough in the area has become a drainage canal, based on a natural drainage pattern. This canal has been planted and is now an important feature in the park. Formal gardens, allees of trees, natural planted areas, contemporary plaza design, and contemporary playground design complete the features of this diverse park area.

 Integrity
Alterations
There have been many alterations to Minoru Park over the years, most notably through the evolution of its design and the changes in its use. However, one can compare the design intent from the earlier adopted plans and still see the both the original vision for the space and the spirit of the original designer’s philosophy in the present park.

 Original Location
Yes.

 Condition
The park, with its buildings and facilities, is maintained in excellent condition.

 Lost
No

 Documentation
Evaluated By
Denise Cook BLA, PBD (Public History)

 Date
Monday, January 8, 2001

 Documentation
Mr. Gordon Barstow, City of Richmond Parks Department. Personal Communication.
Foreman, Brian. “Richmond Minoru Chapel”, Undergraduate Thesis, 1985.
Hynek, Barbara. “Early Flights in Minoru Park” in “Historical Vignettes of Richmond”, Richmond Centennial Society, 1979. Government Publications, Richmond Archives.
Mr. Clive Justice, Landscape Architect. Personal Communication.
Inventory Sheets/Heritage Tree Inventory Sheets by Foundation Group Designs, January 1989.
Justice Webb and Vincent Landscape Architects Ltd. fonds. Add. MSS 1194, 621-A-1, File 4, 1961, City of Vancouver Arhives.
Leisure Services Subjects Files, Municipal Records, Location #4423, Richmond Archives.
McMath, Robert. Unpublished document on Minoru Park to 1958, Brighouse District Reference Files, Richmond Museum.
Minoru Park Reference File, Richmond Archives.
“Reeve, Blair Clash on Tree Execution”. Richmond Review, January 22, 1964. File 621-A-1, City of Vancouver Archives.
“Richmond Now Ready to Plan for Future”. The Province, Wednesday, July 4, 1956, p. 11. File 621-A-1, City of Vancouver Archives.
Minoru Park/Richmond Centennial Park Files. Municipal Records, Location #6719.
Ross, Leslie J. “Richmond, Child of the Fraser”, Richmond Centennial Society, Richmond, B.C., 1979.
Township of Richmond Planning Department. Official Community Plan, 1984. Richmond Public Library.

Historical Photographs: Photograph No. 1858 dated 1910. Vancouver Public Library Special Collections.
Photograph No. 1978 135, dated 1921. Centennial Collection, Richmond Archives.
Photograph No. 1984 17 5, dated 1951. Richmond Archives Collection, Richmond Archives.
Photograph No. 1974 17 22, dated 1953. Richmond Archives Collection, Richmond Archives.
Photograph No. BC 1673:84, dated 1954. Geographical Information Centre, UBC
Photograph No. BC 5063:226, dated 1963. Geographical Information Centre, UBC
Photograph No. 1978 32 37, dated 1964. Centennial Collection, Richmond Archives.
Photograph No. 1988 10 660, dated 1979. George S. McNutt fonds.
Photograph No. 1988 19 771, dated 1982. Richmond Archives Collection, Richmond Archives.
Photograph No. 1988 12 1, dated 1984. Richmond Archives Collection, Richmond Archives.
Location and Type of Plans Found: Waterworks Atlas Map of Brighouse Park, 1936. Municipal Records, Item #1991 40 41, Location # Maps 20.
Desmond, Muirhead & Associates. Proposed Civic Center, Hospital, Multi-Use Sports and Recreation Grounds for Richmond, 1956. Misc. Planning Department Maps, Items #1985 11 and 1985 12, Richmond Archives.
Corporation of the City of Richmond Planning Department. Minoru Community Park, Proposed Plan, 1965. Misc. Planning Department Maps, Item #1987 25 24.
CBA Engineering Ltd./Tattersfield, Kovacs & Gibbon. Plan of North End of Minoru Park, 1974. Richmond Parks Department.
Sloughs and Streams in Richmond c. 1985. Misc. Planning Department Maps, Item #1986 25 19, Location Maps 25.
Sloughs and Archaeological Sites of Richmond, City of Richmond Planning Department map, 198-?.

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