Everything about Nat Bailey is a throwback to the past — the stadium was built in 1951, originally called Capilano Stadium, before it was renamed in 1978 in honour of the founder of B.C. ‘s venerable White Spot restaurant chain.

Its main purpose is to be the home of a minor league baseball team, a reminder of when Vancouver wasn’t major league enough to be home to any major sports outside hockey. 

There was the risk of it being demolished in the early 21st century, but enough supporters (and fundraisers) came together to keep it operating. And recent renovations make the stadium more than just nostalgia: it’s a fun place to watch a game with solid production values, good party sections and fun gimmick nights (fireworks, dog day, Jays alumni). Or at least was before two seasons were cancelled due to the pandemic. 

Ranking Nat Bailey as a park is weird, because it’s a concrete heritage site where you can’t do 95% of the things you associate with a park. 

But if you don’t mind spending a bit of money, and don’t mind having the patience needed for three hours of baseball, you’ll have a good time.