Strathcona Park, Public park in Sandy Hill, Ottawa, Canada
Strathcona Park is a 15-acre (6.1 ha) park on the west bank of the Rideau River, marking the eastern edge of Sandy Hill. Its most prominent feature is the fountain atop the hill, donated by Lord Strathcona in 1909 and sculpted by Mathurin Moreau, with four upright figures symbolizing the continents. The park also has a baseball diamond at its southern end and a play structure by artist Stephen Brathwaite built from stone blocks from the Parliament buildings and Chateau Laurier.
The land was originally the Dominion Rifle Range where soldiers trained before departing for the Second Boer War. It was transformed into a park between 1904 and 1907, establishing its present form.
The fountain on the hill was sculpted by French artist Mathurin Moreau and given by Lord Strathcona in 1909; its four upright figures stand for Europe, Asia, Africa and America, a metaphor common until the 19th century. A twin fountain stands in downtown Buenos Aires. Since 1986 Odyssey Theatre has staged open-air plays each summer at the northeast corner, drawing on commedia dell'arte, puppetry, clowning and dance-theatre.
The Adàwe Crossing, opened in December 2015, links the park to the Rideau River Eastern Pathway at Donald Street and to Vanier, replacing the old summer fording route. Range Road runs along the park's western edge, and the Russian embassy stands at the northeast corner near Laurier Avenue and Charlotte Street. The hill at the northern end is used for tobogganing and snowboard jumps in winter.
Since 1986 the Odyssey Theatre has performed open-air classical plays here each summer, featuring puppetry and dance theatre from different countries on a stage in the northeast corner. These performances bring theatre into the outdoor setting and draw a regular audience throughout the warm months.
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