Victoria Park

Went here to play a game of tennis today. Although there was on and off light rain, there were lots of joggers and walkers in the park, as well as a tennis tournament going on. We were able to play for free at one of the six courts. Nice place to play, near the boardwalk and the water.

An old park
with rocks
of fire
Victoria Park has been around for a long, long time. It was officially made a park in 1873 but was used as a fort during the war of 1812 and had a long history as a cool place to launch a ship or do some fishing.
It’s changed a lot during the years. Now it has tennis courts, baseball fields, swimming pools and a boardwalk. I met an elderly woman walking an even more elderly dog in the rain at the park and she told me about how the park has developed over the decades. Once just woods and a path along the water, now filled with playgrounds and picnic areas. She wasn’t complaining, just telling me a truth, as if I asked her for the time.
The path by the water is now a nice boardwalk that offers great views of Charlottetown Harbor and distant views of three different lighthouses. Remains of Fort Edward, built in 1812 can still be seen and of course some old cannon are present. It seems every park or open space in Canada has an old cannon or two in it. The woody area with a path going through it is still around although there isn’t much left of Dead Man’s Pond. So named because on certain nights you can see the reflection of people that have drowned in the pond staring back out at you. Or so they say.
Prince Edward Island is noted for it’s cliffs and rocks of fire. The rocks are actually red sandstone and the entire harbor is lined with them. In certain light, especially at dusk, they give off a eerie glow. A beautiful contrast to the great water views.
The park definitely has changed over the years. Hopefully the folks in charge will finally feel that it is «developed» enough. And leave the rocks of fire, cannon and dead men alone.