Lighthouse Park is a neighbourhood park located in a residential area in West Vancouver, Canada. It is a popular tourist attraction for visitors to Vancouver as it is a National Historic Site of Canada. It is a well-maintained park, and is open year-round throughout all four seasons. The park is known for the Point Atkinson Lighthouse, located at the southernmost tip of the peninsula. The park is made up of 75 hectares (182 acres) of mostly virgin rainforest, and was founded in 1792. The District of West Vancouver maintains and operates the park and permits visitors from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Visitors to this park can enjoy the various beginner level hiking trails, as well as bring their dogs for a walk or have lunch along the rocks of the beach near the Lighthouse. There are various picnic benches scattered throughout the trails of the park, yet none near the beach and the lighthouse itself.
History
Lighthouse Park was originally known as Point Atkinson when it was founded in 1792. It was discovered by Captain George Vancouver aboard the Discovery, and he consequently was the one who named the area. Captain Vancouver recorded that he had named this point on Howe Sound after a "particular friend". Unfortunately he neglected to identify the friend. The most likely candidate appears to be Thomas Atkinson, RN, who later was master of HMS Victory during the Battle of Trafalgar.
The first lighthouse was resurrected in 1874 as a gift from the Federal Government of Canada in exchange for B.C agreeing to join Canada in 1871. The 182 acres of forest set aside in 1881 by the Dominion of Canada served as a dark backdrop of the lighthouse, and a source of fuel for the steam-powered foghorn of the lighthouse. This forest that was set aside in 1881 became what we call Lighthouse Park in present day. This first lighthouse was built by Arthur Finney of Nanaimo, and was made of wood accompanied by an attached keepers dwelling, where the lighthouse keeper of the time resided.
The current lighthouse that visitors to the park can observe was built in 1912. The forest that resides behind the lighthouse was then leased to the newly founded District of West Vancouver. During World War 2 the lighthouse was used for surveillance of the Burrard Inlet for enemy submarines and ships. It was respectively equipped with gun emplacements and search lights. Behind the lighthouse construction took place to provide facilities for The Department of National Defence billeted conscripts. These facilities included a bunkhouse, Officer's mess hall, dining hall and a guard hut.
In 1994 the area was declared a National Historic Site of Canada.
Flora
There is an abundance of vegetation throughout the park. However, the native species suffer from the encroachment of invasive species and "wear-and-tear". There is currently a project to replant much of the vegetation along the pathways of the park in order to benefit the overall aesthetic of Lighthouse Park.
Douglas fir
Douglas firs (Pseudotsuga menziesii) provide the logging industry with a significant portion of their revenue. They often dominate the forest canopy, and once at maturity these trees reach immense heights and size. Before the man-made skyline of Vancouver of modern day, the Douglas fir defined the skies of Vancouver. When the first European settlers arrived in Vancouver, they were amazed by the scale of the 1,000 year old Douglas fir trees. Some of the tallest trees on earth grew here. The Douglas fir remains to this day as the North America's most important tree for forestry for construction, furniture, and pulp.
Western red cedar
Along the Pacific coast Western red cedars (Thuja plicata) can be found from Northern California to Southern Alaska. The age range of these trees are between 800-1,000 years old, with the oldest living up to 2,000 years in California. The wood from these trees is used extensively in the forestry industry, much like the Douglas fir. However, there needs to be an increase in regulation of the management of these trees, as they are currently being used faster than they can grow.
Arbutus tree
Arbutus menziesii is best known for its smooth, red-orange bark and is native to warm climates of the Mediterranean, Western Europe and North America. Arbutus trees grow vibrant red berries which are edible with the taste resembling that of a fig. The Straits Salish people of Vancouver Island used this tree for medicine to help treat colds, tuberculosis and stomach problems. This tree was also the symbol for many myths of the Straits Salish people.