.Susan Koh, who lives in that area and has walked through the park many times, agreed to be our guide today. She took us along the east pathway through tall Douglas firs to the first lagoon where ducks were enjoying the cool water. It was a great day to be outdoors and many people were walking, jogging, enjoying the balmy weather, including dozens of grey and black squirrels. Our walk continued around the lagoon and through more open parkland to the second lagoon where many picnic tables were scattered amongst the trees and shrubs. The pitch and putt golf course is located across the pathway from the lagoon. Linda has golfed there in the past and we talked about coming out with a five iron and a putter one day to play a round.
Beyond the golf course and through a grove of rhododendrons as tall as 20 feet, amid tall forest giants, we entered a clearing where the Central Park outdoor pool sparkled invitingly. The pool was built in 1963 as a joint effort of the Burnaby and Vancouver Parks Boards. A few young males were huddled in one corner of the pool compound while across the other side a few young females were checking out the guys from a safe distance. Judi and Marilyn stopped at the wicket to ask about fees and public swim times.
Susan invited us to the far side of the pool where a large circular platform had been created. A low curved wall about three feet high stretched around one arc of the circle and, on a high pedestal near the wall was an enormous gilded or bronzed statue of a man 10 feet tall in a running stance with arms outstretched. A plaque at the base indicated this to be an "Ambassador of Peace".
Below the plaque were etchings of the Korean and Canadian flags. On the back of the pedestal were plaques dedicating this memorial in 2007 to the soldiers who gave their lives fighting the Korean War in the 1950-60's and was the inspiration of the Korean Veterans Association, financed jointly by the Korean and British Columbia governments, with donations from hundreds of private individuals.Susan is originally from Korea and she explained the Korean inscriptions on the memorial plaques along the "Wall of Community" which commemorates not only the Koreans who fought and died in Korea but also the 26,791 Canadians who volunteered to go to Korea. Of that number, 516 gave their lives, 36 of them from British Columbia.
Continuing our walk back to the main entrance, we passed the newly rebuilt playing field of the Vancouver Whitecaps soccer stadium. Further on is a large playground being put to good use by families of young children.
We came back by skytrain, Susan getting off at 29Th Avenue to catch her bus home, Marilyn and Ken leaving at Metrotown. Judi, Linda and I rode to Commercial Station at Broadway and took the #20 bus at the Drive.
Next week, we are going to the Caribbean Festival at Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver. Any interested seniors are welcome to join us for great music, food, and lots of textiles and souvenirs. Meet at Britannia Seniors Centre at 10:15; we leave at 10:30 to take the skytrain to Waterfront Station where we transfer to the Seabus crossing Burrard Inlet. It should be a hot day, forecast in the high twenties with a humid index of 31, so come well protected from the sun and bring lots of water.
Until then, enjoy this very short summer.
Contributor Virginia
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