Departments > Parks, Recreation and Culture > Parks Division > Park Improvements > 2010 Park Upgrades > Cridge Park

2010 Park Upgrades

Cridge Park

Cridge Park provides a half hectare of valuable green space in downtown Victoria consisting of a lawn bowling green and treed area. The park was named after Victoria philanthropist Bishop Edward Cridge for his work in the community during the mid to late 1800s.

The City of Victoria improved Cridge Park in 2010 to better meet the needs of the community. Based on valuable community input, the City:

• Installed a new, two-metre wide paved path through the park to Belleville Street, and new lighting
• Developed a new plaza area with seating and ornamental plantings
• Created new areas of native and shade tolerant plantings
• Installed new turf and an irrigation system
• Preserved and pruned existing large trees to improve safety
• Installed a new wrought iron picket-style fence around the perimeter of the park

Below is a design concept that illustrates the improvements.

• Design Concept for Cridge Park - [PDF 742KB]

Cridge Park Renewal Celebration

On Friday, April 8, 2011, Mayor Dean Fortin was joined by Audrey Cridge Finch, the oldest living descendant of philanthropist Bishop Edward Cridge, and her six year-old great grandson Logan O'Brien, to celebrate the renewal of Cridge Park and its historical significance in Victoria.

The community gathered for the unveiling of four, historical, interpretive plaques and the planting of a ceremonial tree. A reception followed at the Church of Our Lord with an official cake-cutting.

The interpretive plaques commemorate the park's history and Bishop Cridge's contributions to Victoria, which include the founding of the Church of Our Lord, the creation of the Royal Jubilee Hospital, and the founding of the BC Protestant Orphans' Home - which today is the Cridge Centre for the Family.

The plaques were developed in partnership between the City of Victoria, the Canadian Pacific Lawn Bowling Club, the Church of Our Lord, and the Cridge Park Rescue Group.

To view the Cridge Park interpretive plaques, click here - [PDF 675KB].

Photos of the celebratory event can be viewed below.

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