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Church Road Park
"One, two, three strikes you’re out at the old ball game." Not any more at this park. The baseball fields are now located on Centennial Field and Goodyear Avenue. But once upon a time when our teacher Ms. Warr was a little girl, Church Road Park was a baseball park. She can remember going there for Labour Day celebrations and sitting up in the stands. That was a long time ago. This Athletic Field as it was called, opened in 1910 and a grandstand was constructed in the 1930's to shelter the people who came to watch the events that took place on the field - cricket, football, baseball, band concerts, and the events track program for Labour Day.
Now it is a quiet park where you can go to sit and watch the ducks in the little
manmade pond there. Church Road Park officially opened in August 1985. If you want to take a walk down memory lane with Ms. Warr, the Old Ball Park (1930's) is painted on one of the four murals in the park. The Grand Falls (1909), Mill Road and Train (1948), and Loggers (1909) are the other memories captured in pictures. These beautiful pictures were painted by the Central Newfoundland Visual Arts Society in 1997.
In the park there is playground equipment for us to play on. There are picnic
tables if you want to have a little picnic, and park benches to sit on and enjoy the scenic beauty. One of the twenty water fountains that used to be located in this area of town where people could come "draw" water is on display in the park. Not draw like a picture, but to pump water. In the olden days some kids had to fetch a turn of water before they went to school.
Pets are allowed at the park but there are signs reminding people to stoop and scoop and clean up after their pets, so that everybody can enjoy the scenic beauty of the park. In winter it still is a fun place. I love sliding on the hills in the park or just building a snowman with my brothers and sisters.
Carson Anthony (2003-2004) |
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