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Departments > Parks, Recreation and Culture > Parks Division > Beacon Hill Park The crowning jewel in Victoria's park system, Beacon Hill Park is an oasis of both natural and landscaped beauty. Its open vista across the Strait of Juan De Fuca and its unique features draw people time and time again. On February 21, 1882 by an Order-In-Council by the Province of British Columbia the City of Victoria was granted the Park in trust. The Watering Garden is a new water play park facility located at the site of the old wading pool in Beacon Hill Park. The goal was to create a play park that celebrates water in creative, playful and visually interesting ways, in all seasons. The new Watering Garden achieves these goals, creating a peaceful oasis in the park that citizens of all ages can enjoy for years to come. A new tool is now available for individuals with limited or no sight to enjoy Beacon Hill Park. The map uses a "tactile system" of textures and colour in combination with Braille or raised print, to enable those with sight impairments to navigate and enjoy the park. It was produced by Tactile Colour, in conjunction with the City of Victoria. Copies of the map are available free of charge at:
A modified version of this map may also be downloaded and printed by the public for general use. See below.
Looking from Finlayson point along beach towards Clover point.
Unparalleled views mark every season: from wildflowers blanketing the slopes in spring, to oceanside bluffs veiled in autumn mist and spectacular, lashing waves on stormy days. Kite enthusiasts, paragliders, sailboarders and radio-controlled airplane buffs all have room to take advantage of the distinctive landscape here. The interior of the park, with its Victorian landscape of manicured flowerbeds, graceful trees and lakes and bridged streams, has a life all its own.
On summer evenings and weekends, music drifts from the Cameron Bandshell.
Sports fields, a miniature golfing green, a childrens' petting zoo, playgrounds; a cricket pitch and a lawn bowling club provide recreation for all ages.
Beacon Hill Park is probably best known for its beautiful natural features. Remnants of the fragile, native Garry Oak ecosystem occur in the Park, providing spectacular spring shows of blue flowering camas and native wildflowers.
Other natural areas include large swaths of grassland as well as Douglas-fir woods and Black Cottonwood Semi-swamp in the southeast corner of the Park. Wildlife abounds in Beacon Hill Park. More than a hundred bird species occur here, along with a number of mammals such as river otters, racoons and squirrels. Sunfish, painted turtles and crayfish make their homes in the waterways.
Beacon Hill Park also has an important status as the western terminus, the Mile "0" of the 8,000 kilometre Trans-Canada Highway. The Mile "0" marker has proved to be a very popular tourists' photo opportunity! The history and character of Victoria are so closely intertwined with Beacon Hill that no visit to the City would be complete without a visit to the Park. Small wonder that Beacon Hill is considered the jewel of Victoria's parks, and has been fiercely and proudly guarded in the last century and a half of Victoria's history. 
Additional information can be found at the following:
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