Oak Bay High School Green Space

Oak Bay High School Green Space is in the seaside community of Oak Bay, one of thirteen areas of the Capital Regional District of British Columbia. This green space is has several pedestrian friendly pathways and large sports fields including an artificial turf field. This field is fenced with chain-linked wire fencing. There is a concrete seating area on the northside of the field. There several grass covered areas around the green space including the center of the oval running track. A large garry oak tree provides invaluable shade at the track. The school is part of the British Columbia School District  61 Victoria and the green space is accessible outside of school hours until dark. The school was rebuilt in 2016; the original buildings were from the late nineteen twenties. A large giant sequoia tree was planted in eighteen sixty two by Mr Alexis Casanave whose had property bordered along Bowker Creek.  Several Garry oak trees are found on this green space. Bowker Creek Park borders on the south side while the Oak Bay Recreation Center lies to the southeast.

Geographic Location N48º 25’ 58”  W123º 19’ 5”

Oak Bay High School Green Space can be reached from the Trans Canada Highway. Continue along the Hwy 1 into Victoria as it becomes Douglas Street. Turn off Douglas onto Hillside Avenue to head east. Stay on Hillside Avenue as it becomes Lansdowne Road. Continue along Lansdowne Road to reach Foul Bay Road. Turn onto Cadboro Bay Road to head east and look for the green space and parking area on the right. There are several parking areas and some street parking along Canmore Street. City buses travel along Cadboro Bay Road and Foul Bay Road.

 

Haynes Park

Haynes Park is in the seaside community of Oak Bay, one of thirteen areas of the Capital Regional District of British Columbia. The rock and cobble beach that borders the seashore of Haynes Park is a favorite for bird watchers. A concrete staircase leads to the rocky beach.  The waters are part of Oak Bay, the large area of water that forms the sheltered area west of Mary Tod Islet in the Salish Sea. The sheltered bay is filled with moored boats and other vessels that are moored to the docks of Oak Bay Marina.  Many of the vessels provide usable platforms for blue herons to display their patience while fishing.  The park lawn is interspersed with Garry Oak trees.  A swing set, park benches, and beach accesses, including a limited access boat ramp, are also found in the park.  Glenlyon School playground is near the school’s boathouse off the north end of Haynes Park. This park was named for Arthur Edward Haynes a former accountant, real estate agent and an alderman of the inaugural Oak Bay Council in nineteen o’six. A couple of benches, a picnic table and water fountain on found here. Oak Bay Green Space, Willows’ Beach Park and Windsor Park are nearby.

Geographic Location N48º 25’ 35”  W123º 18’ 27”

Haynes Park can be reached from the Trans Canada Highway. Continue along the Hwy 1 into Victoria as it becomes Douglas Street. Turn off Douglas onto Hillside Avenue to head east. Stay on Hillside Avenue as it becomes Lansdowne Road. Turn right at the traffic lights on to Cadboro Bay Road. Turn left off Cadboro Bay Road onto Bowker Avenue. Follow Bowker to reach Beach Drive. Turn left onto Beach Drive and look for Haynes Park near the junction with Beresford Place. There is limited street parking. City buses travel along Beach Drive periodically.

Redfern Park

Redfern Park is a green oasis in the lovely residential area of Jubilee and Fairfield in Victoria, BC. At a wonderful one third of a hectare, there are several London plane trees, open grass covered spaces, pleasing plant displays, an asphalt footpath and playground. Several benches and a picnic tables are in place for further enjoyment. Dogs are permitted off leash in about half of the park, only early in the mornings and late in the evenings; read the signs in the park for confirmation of times. The off leash area is three-quarters fenced.

The colorful playground is set in a wood chip base. It has a swing set with two for children and two with a toddler seat. There is also two separate climbing structures; a smaller one for little children and a much taller one with arched and tapered ladders that lead to a long slide. The one hundred and fifty meter footpath connects Bourchier and Leighton streets along the road right of way of Redfern Street. This park and street were named for Charles Redfern, a jeweler, watchmaker and a two term mayor of Victoria in the late eighteen hundreds. Royal Jubilee Hospital Green Space is about two blocks north along Lee Avenue. Bowker Creek Park is about two blocks east along Bouchier Street then along Goldsmith Street, past the Oak Bay Recreation Center and toward Oak Bay High School Green Space, which is bordered by Bowker Creek.

Geographic coordinates N48° 25′ 48″ W123° 19′ 30″ near Brouchier Street

Redfern Park can be reached from Blanchard Street. Turn east onto Fort Street and continue to Foul Bay Road. Turn right onto Foul Bay Road. Turn right again just after the shopping center onto Bourchier Street or the next right onto Leighton Street. The park is accessible partway along the road off of both Bourchier and Leighton streets. The nearest washrooms would be found either at the shopping complex on the corner of Fort and Foul Bay or at the Oak Bay Recreation Center off of Goldsmith Street. Goldsmith Street is to the left off Foul Bay just before Bourchier Street. There is a pedestrian pathway along the grocery store of the shopping complex from Bourchier Street to the parking lot in front of the store. City buses travel along both Foul Bay Road and Fort Street between downtown and the University of Victoria.