| Long recognized as one of the great parks of the | | | | million visitors, locals and tourists alike, who come |
| world, Stanley Park is one of the crown jewels of | | | | for its recreational facilities, gardens, seawall and |
| Vancouver. Stanley Park is Vancouver's first park | | | | ocean views. The famous seawall path which |
| and one of the city's main tourist attractions and | | | | circles the park is used by more than 2.5 million |
| is an evergreen oasis of 400 hectares (1,000 | | | | pedestrians, sight-seers, cyclists, and inline skaters |
| acres) close to the downtown core. Its natural | | | | every year. Most of the park is forested with old |
| west coast and First Nations atmosphere offers a | | | | growth forest and an estimated half million trees |
| back drop of majestic cedar, hemlock and fir | | | | that can be as tall as 76 metres (250 ft) and |
| trees which greets visitors from all over the globe | | | | hundreds of years old. There are also |
| and transports them to an environment rich in | | | | approximately 125 miles of trails and roads |
| tranquility. The park also is home to various wildlife | | | | throughout the park which are patrolled by the |
| and its features appeal to the naturalist, the plant | | | | Vancouver City Police horse mounted squad. The |
| lover or one who would do nothing more than | | | | Project for Public Spaces has ranked Stanley Park |
| relax in beautiful surroundings. | | | | as the sixteenth best park in the world and sixth |
| Stanley Park was opened in 1888 by the British | | | | best in North America. |
| Lord Stanley of Preston who later became the | | | | A great number of quality recreational facilities are |
| Earl of Derby. The largest city-owned park in | | | | also available in Stanley Park including a pitch and |
| Canada and the third largest in North America, | | | | putt golf course bordered by the spring-blooming |
| Stanley Park is more than ten percent larger than | | | | Ted and Mary Greig Rhododendron Garden. At |
| New York City's Central Park and almost half the | | | | the Park's heart is the formal Rose Garden |
| size of London's Richmond Park. | | | | surrounded by mass perennial plantings looking |
| Each year the park attracts an estimated eight | | | | their very best from April through September. |