Central Memorial Park, Victorian park in Beltline district, Calgary, Canada
Central Memorial Park is a historic park in the Beltline district featuring geometric pathways, formal gardens, native trees, and fountains. The grounds include the Memorial Park Library building and several monuments arranged throughout the space.
Central Memorial Park was designed in 1889 and landscaped in Victorian style on one full city block between 12th and 13th Avenues SW. A major revitalization costing $11.5 million ran through 2008–2009, and the renovated park reopened in May 2010. In 2018 the Memorial Park Library and the surrounding park were named a National Historic Site.
The park's name comes from its role as Calgary's war memorial ground. The South African War statue, unveiled in 1914, bears the dates 1899–1902 rather than the name of its model, Colonel R. L. Boyle. Each November 11 the Calgary Highlanders parade here for Remembrance Day, and ANZAC Day is marked at the cenotaph in April.
The park occupies a full city block between 12th and 13th Avenues SW, bounded by 2nd and 4th Streets SW. The Memorial Park Library sits at the eastern end, with the cenotaph and equestrian statue arranged along the central axis. The grounds are level and paved, and the layout is easy to cross on foot.
The equestrian statue of Russell Lambert Boyle bears no name on its pedestal: it honours all Albertans who fought in the Second Boer War, and the dates 1899–1902 are inscribed instead. Sculptor Louis Philippe Hébert modelled the rider on Eneas McCormick, then in his early twenties, seated on rancher Pat Burns's own pony.
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