By Jim Gerwing

Since its very first year the boundaries of Beacon Hill Park have come under siege. Governor James Douglas was following British law in setting aside land reserves for schools, churches, and parks when he established the original boundary for Beacon Hill Park in 1858.

The Hudson Bay Company, which claimed ownership of the land, promptly sold off the portion bounding on Heywood Avenue and Park Boulevard. This reduced the park by over 30 acres. (See on map, # 1.)

In 1882 the park was entrusted to the city “to be maintained and preserved for the use, recreation and enjoyment of the public.” Roads were built without diligent reference to park boundaries. (See on map, # 2.)

The all-weather soccer fields along Douglas Street was the site of the first cricket match played in the park. Sir John A. McDonald proclaimed cricket as the national sport of Canada (What was he thinking?), but that did not catch on. In 1891 the Park Committee allowed the Cricket Club and the Polo Club to use part of the park, “but no exclusive right to use any portion of the Park can be granted.” The Cricket Club sought a place on the eastern side with the provision that “some understanding” was to be arrived at with other users of the park. In 1902 the city granted the club “to use that portion of the Park hitherto used by the 5th Regiment Cricket Club upon condition that the club take proper care of the ground.” When they promised to build a moveable shed, the city gave permission. (See on map, # 3.)

Around 1907 the Lawn Bowling Club began negotiating for a place in the park. Despite the most vigorous year-long opposition of elder statesman Dr. John Helmcken and his family, despite the obvious conflict of interest of city councilors, and despite the provisions of the law, the club set down deep roots in 1909. (See on map, # 4.)

Both clubs have built permanent pavilions for the use of club members. These additions to the park met with enormous public apathy, and are now considered assets to the park.

Controversies erupted more often over the ravages committed by the city of Victoria. Unsightly gravel pits and rock quarries destroyed much of the natural environment. A writer feared the park would be “delivered to the Philistines” when a rifle range with a hideous barbed wire fence with a sign “Trespassers will be prosecuted” sign was approved.

The burial cairns were not protected from either vandals or relic hunters, prompting an archeologist in 1897 to remark that he could not find much in the way of the large rocks marking aboriginal burial sites.

No one can protect the park from the devastation visited upon it periodically by nature’s havoc. It is difficult to protect the park from invasive non-native plants. An indifferent general public poses another risk from periodic attempts to introduce commercial ventures.

The responsibility falls on the shoulders of the city council to adhere to the mandate given them. The Friends of Beacon Hill Park, formed in 1989, attempt to keep the pressure on city council to protect what is left of the natural beauty of the park. They coordinate volunteer efforts to root out invasive greenery, save the camas meadows, and restore as much of the original landscape as reasonably possible.

Beacon Hill Park, surely one of the crowning jewels of this beautiful city, has suffered from a great variety of threats. Should the public rely on a small group of volunteers or a capricious city council to protect its interest in this park? We do need to do more than merely brag about its beauty.