The new “River District” is Vancouver’s biggest neighbourhood development since the Olympic Village a decade ago, but because it’s in the furthest southeast corner of the city, it’s likely out of mind for most folks.

But it’s filling in, development by development, and with it are slowly coming amenities like parks. 

This is one of two that has been completed, a small simple green space with lots of plants and benches around a basic walking path. It’s well done for what it is, and is an example of how smartly designed places don’t need to be large or extravagant to be welcoming, even if this one is particularly basic. 

It’s worth noting that every park here on out is considered “acceptable” by our ranking team — we’re still not at anything really good, but these parks are fine enough for what they’re offering. 

There’s a covered picnic table, rare in a city that doesn’t prioritize them, a few benches, and the only beach volleyball courts in the south side of the city. Navigate the rocks, and you’ll be able to get right next to the river, with a very rocky beach there for sitting. 

It’s quite amusing, if fairly confusing, especially since the city barely acknowledges the existence of the park, and has shown no real interest in improving it, despite a request in the 2014 Marpole Plan for improved signage and lighting. 

But if you work in the area — or just live south of 41st and crave some quick beach volleyball — it will probably do the trick. 

#188: Montgomery Park

Another mediocre park next to a secondary school, Prince of Wales has a small playground that is barely passable for kids under five, and a large long field to play sports in. Between the two lie some trees — they provide some definition to the park, but aren’t dense enough for any particular exploring. 

Finally, there’s an unmaintained incline on the park’s west side. It gives some texture, but little else. 

Still, ample green space is provided for all sorts of activities. One could do worse. 

Jammed between the Second Narrows Bridge and Boundary Road, the most northeastern bit of land in Vancouver used to belong to the Bates Family, who bequeathed their property to the city for use as a park. 

To call it a “park” is a stretch though. It’s mostly a small collection of short, somewhat patchy trails that connect with the Trans-Canada Trail and Burnaby’s Montrose Park. 

The highlight is a collection of homemade treehouses that are charming if you feel safe enough to climb up to them, providing a unique view of the Burrard Inlet.

Unless you’re a fan of the show Supernatural. Then, the highlight is getting to see the entrance to the Men of Letters bunker in the flesh. 

A tiny island on the southwest corner of Vancouver that served as both farmland and residential area for BC Packers cannery workers, Deering Island was transformed into a small suburban-style single-family development with waterfront views in the 1980s. 

While the push by some Vancouver residents to turn the entire island into a park failed, in 1999 a park was officially proclaimed on its far west side. A small green space next to the road transitions to a walking path next to the water for 70 metres or so. 

Perfectly pleasant for island-dwellers, in other words. Plenty of more interesting waterfront options for the rest of us, however.  

McCleery is the least interesting of them though: formerly a family farm, the course is mostly flat and plain from a topographic standpoint. The course has a few too many water hazards for a novice to particularly enjoy, but the routing isn’t particularly exciting for those who have played some of the region’s other tracks. 

Of course, it’s still a good walk spoiled, with a couple of views of the Fraser River added in, and if you’re smart enough not to pick up the game, it becomes a good walk, period.