A Walk in the Park

Park plan

In 1891, the Waterloo Park Board of Management hired Leader Lain Chamber, a Toronto engineer, to assist with the design of the park. Work began in July, and by October a crew had moved approximately 8,600 loads of earth from the area now called the Oval.

Chamber’s original concepts included an athletic field, tennis courts, pavilion, lily pond, and private garden. Unfortunately, his plans for a half-mile race track, horse show arena, pergola, and out-of-the-way paths were never completed.

Entrance Gates

In 1909, this rustic gateway was added to the west side entrance to the park. This location is approximately where the Seagram Drive entrance is today.

To mark the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, a memorial gateway was erected at the Young Street entrance to the park. Featuring limestone and brick pillars, iron gates and a wrought iron arch topped with electric globe lights, the $1,200 cost was raised by voluntary public subscriptions. The width of the gates eventually proved limiting and in 1936, the main gateway was used as an entrance only. In 1957, the gateway was removed to provide better vehicle access to the park. The gateway found a new home at a private residence at Paradise Lake until 1994, when the City of Waterloo purchased the iconic gateway once more. The metal archway was refurbished and reinstalled as the pedestrian entrance on Father David Bauer Drive.

Opening the Park

Waterloo Park officially opened on August 7, 1893. The celebration was a roaring success with bicycle races and baseball matches between Galt and Guelph. Both Berlin (now Kitchener) and Waterloo celebrated the opening with the support of their musical societies. A live concert by the combined bands and a display of fireworks capped off the night.

Silver Lake

Silver Lake began as a water source to power Mennonite settler Abraham Erb’s grist mill. When Waterloo Park was created, the owner of the millpond, William Snider, permitted public use of his property. The lake continued to be a popular location for year-round recreational and business activities after it was sold to the Town of Waterloo in 1917.

Here, Lorraine Ritzer poses for a photograph near Silver Lake. When it was thought to obstruct the view, the boathouse in the background was moved across the ice to this partially-hidden location.

Here, a leisurely boat ride takes place in Waterloo Park. In the background are Adolph and Hillyard Knauff and Olive and Clayton Ritzer.

Fishing in Silver Lake was excellent in 1891, with carp, catfish, and the occasional speckled trout attracting anglers to the park. In 1926, one hundred black bass fish were introduced and the lake was closed to fishing for three years. 

The Grandstand

Shortly after opening, a grandstand was added to the park for organized activities at the Oval. In 1895, the track hosted over 10,000 visitors at the Canadian Wheelman’s Association Championship cycling races. It was built by a private group of citizens and provided seating for spectators of cycling, horse racing, and other competitions. The grandstand was demolished in 1953, but evidence of the Oval and its former terraced hillside remain today.

Bandshell

A small round bandstand was among the first structures built in the park in the early 1890s. In 1920, the Seagram family, in memory of local distiller Joseph E. Seagram, donated an elaborate, open-style bandshell. Located on the hillside overlooking Silver Lake, it was painted black and yellow, the racing colours of Joseph E. Seagram’s stables. It continued to serve as a focal point in the Park until it was torn down in 1951. 

1820 Log Cabin

Waterloo’s first schoolhouse was built in 1820 and served as a school for 23 years. Originally on Church Street (now Central Street), it was replaced by Central School. In 1842, it was moved to an area between Waterloo and Berlin (Kitchener) called Greenbush, next to the current Kitchener Collegiate Institute.

The importance of the schoolhouse goes beyond education. Levi Carroll, a freedom seeker, bought the land on King Street in 1860 which included the schoolhouse where he had been living for 17 years. Born into enslavement in Maryland (USA), Levi came to Canada via the Underground Railroad where his wife Lucretia and young son Charles, joined him. It was home for his second wife Margaret, and her children, and served as a place for friends seeking temporary shelter. In 1891, Levi sold his land to the school board but continued to live in the log house for another two years.

Situated in Waterloo Park since 1894, it is the oldest remaining log schoolhouse in the Province of Ontario and stands as a tribute to the legacy of education and local Black history.

City Celebrations

In 1948, Waterloo Park was the site for Cityhood festivities celebrating Waterloo’s achieving city status. On June 11, 1948, 2,000 school children participated in field day competitions. Evening entertainment included a band concert, baby contest, and an exhibition baseball game between the Buffalo Harlem Giants and Waterloo Senior Tigers.

Music in the Park

Since the creation of the park, music has been an integral form of entertainment. Concerts held in the early 1890s featured the Waterloo Musical Society and the 29th Battalion Bands. These events attracted thousands of spectators who would pay a dime to hear “the finest music in the country.”

The Waterloo Band Festival was an annual event held in Waterloo Park on the last Saturday in June from 1932-1940 and 1946-1958. The festival attracted crowds of up to 25,000 to view the competitions, parades, and evening performances that often featured internationally acclaimed bands and soloists.

Picnics

Picnickers flocked to the newly opened park to take advantage of its many amenities – including seasonal picnics and family reunions. Here, the Fetterly family enjoys a picnic in the park on May 24, 1932.

Sports

Many sporting events took place in Waterloo Park throughout its history. Sunday afternoons were a popular time for hockey on Silver Lake. Tennis courts were in the park by 1900 and it became associated with the Waterloo Tennis Club by 1967. Baseball was also a popular sport played in Waterloo Park.

Swimming

Although swimming and bathing in Silver Lake was discouraged, people still went. In the 1930s, improvements were made to the beach area including rafts, diving boards, and platforms. Here, diving platforms can be seen on Silver Lake in 1929. The opening of the Waterloo Lions Club Pool in 1953 put an end to swimming in the lake.