The man-made Duck Pond is fed by the Waterford River and is the home of numerous fish and waterfowl. Enjoy feeding the ducks, swans and geese that are permanent guests of the City.
|
You start your tour of Bowring Park at the East Gate Bridge
opposite the Waterford Hospital, on Waterford Bridge Road. Next to
the duck pond at the lower end of the park, the bridge is the first
concrete bridge ever constructed in Newfoundland.
The man-made Duck Pond is fed by the Waterford River and is the home of numerous fish and waterfowl. Enjoy feeding the ducks, swans and geese that are permanent guests of the City. |
|
|---|
|
The famous statue of Peter Pan is a memorial to Sir Edgar Bowring's godchild, Betty Munn. The young girl was one of ninety-four people who died when the S.S.Florizel struck a reef and capsized during a winter gale off the Southern Shore community of Cappahayden. The inscription on the statue which stands in her memory reads, " To a dear little girl who loved the Park." The statute is the work of George Frampton, and is a replica of the original located in Kensington Gardens, in England. |
|---|
|
On July 15, 1914, the date the park was officially opened, the Duke
of Connaught planted a Linden (or lime) tree close by the Peter Pan
statue. Under the tree sits the Connaught Stone, originally used by
Sir Richard Squires (Prime Minister of Newfoundland from 1919-1923
and again from 1929-1932) as a gravestone for his two dogs. One of
the dogs' names, "Humber", is still visible on the stone.
The Gnome monument was carved by a sculptor called Blundstone to commemorate the official opening of the park. Further along the road is a cast iron horse trough, that used to be found throughout the city. The trough in Bowring Park is surrounded by cobblestones from Water Street and now serves a drinking fountain for visitors. |
|
|---|
|
Off the paved road are some Shadow Pools which were designed by
landscape architects to give a startling reflection even on the most
cloudy days. Further upstream is a granite rock formation which
provides the name for Whale's Back Falls at whose foot it sits.
Near the bridge over the falls a plaque honors RHK Cochius,
Landscape Architect, who moulded the original fifty acres of
Bowring Park.
The statue of the Caribou, is a replica of the one in Beaumont Hamel, France which honours the Royal Newfoundland Regiment who fought there in the Battle of the Somme in 1916 incurring huge casualties. The statue is the work of Basil Gotto and was donated by Major Howard Green in 1928. |
|
|---|
|
At the heart of Bowring Park is the Bungalow. A historic building surrounded by beautiful lawns and gardens, highlighted by a beautiful Weeping Beach Tree. In the center of the lawn is another gift of Sir Edgar Bowring, a Sundial. | |
|---|---|---|
| On the other side of a stand of trees is another sculpture by Basil Gotto. Using Corporal Thomas Pittman as his model, the artist has created a monument to The Fighting Newfoundlander. |
| |
|
Across the walkway from the statue is the rustic Gazebo, with a
unique self-supporting roof. Constructed when the park opened its
a beautiful place to avoid sun showers.
The newer section of the park contains recreation facilities, including an outdoor swimming pool, softball pitch, playground and lawn bowling green. | ||
 Return to Park Menu | Return to Avalon Menu
|
|---|
