This page was created by Keagan Fowler. The last update was by AVRC.
Introduction of Public Parks to Canadian Towns
The Carleton Place Waterworks’s infrastructure runs throughout the town. The building itself, however, is located in Riverside Park – beside the Mississippi River, near Lake Avenue and John Street. Riverside Park was introduced to the community in 1904, which is part of the Caldwell Sawmill area purchased in order to have the land to establish the park. In the same year, Sir Wilfrid Laurier visited Carleton Place and gave a speech to inaugurate the park. (Gallant, 2013). This period when the park was introduced to the town is quite significant, as parks were beginning to be incorporated into cities as an escape from an increasingly industrialized world: “With the onset of industrialization there was a steady change from rural to urban living. This migration to cities coupled with high birth rates and increased immigration led to rapidly growing centres of large populations. People found themselves remote from nature and with no time or means of transportation to get to the country. Cities began to respond to this need by setting aside areas as public parks” (Martin and Segrave 1983, 13). Escaping from the industrialization by way of public parks was common in larger cities during the end of the 19th century. We see the introduction of Riverside Park to Carleton Place at the turn of century as perhaps a product of slower growth compared to a larger city, but a byproduct of industrialization, nonetheless. Despite being a more rural town, labour intensive industry did drive the town through many of its years. As such, public parks within rural towns would serve the same purpose as in larger cities: a serene escape from industry that is easy to access.
The introduction of Riverside Park during this time is symbolic of the town’s growth alongside numerous other Canadians town, as the park comes during a boom of new parks prior to the war: “The glory years for parks began in the 1890’s and lasted until about 1914-15. These years were ones of clearing, landscaping, planting and erecting buildings. So much development in such a short period has not occurred again and is not likely to do so” (Martin and Segrave 1983, 14). The Carleton Place Waterworks is introduced to the town at the end of this public park growth period in 1914. Both the Carleton Place Waterworks and Riverside Park are emblematic of the town’s progress at the turn of the century, as the infrastructure and park provide relief from industry. Riverside Park serviced the community much like other Canadian parks that came during this time: “parks were the focal point for social and recreational activities. Most had a pavilion of some sort and hosted concerts and dances, which in many cases were the highlights of social season. Circuses, political rallies, and travelling dignitaries such as royalty came to the parks.” (Martin and Segrave 1983, 14). It is interesting that leisure and community are a by-product of industrial growth, resulting in a unique cultural landscape.
