Part of the reason Almond Park is so loved on the west side is because of its location: conveniently off Alma and 12th, it’s the closest mid-sized park for thousands of residents in Point Grey, Dunbar and Kitsilano. 

And specifically, its location wedged right up against Alma as cars race up the hill between Broadway and 16th provides its biggest strength and weakness: the steep hillside was turned into a forested area with ample shrubs and a gentle pathway, providing a quasi-hidden exploration space that’s rare for a park of this size.

However, the noise coming from the cars is ever present. And once you’re done exploring the little forest, it’s a rather ordinary park, with a small field, tennis courts and an adequate sand/wood/yellow slide playground from the 90s. 

In summation, the grievances of this ranking aired in a Canucks recap in The Athletic have been noted, but dismissed.