"The woods are magnificent, superb beyond description but most vexatious to a surveyor and the first dwellers in a town."
And with that, Colonel Richard Moody sent his letter to B.C. Governor James Douglas in the late 1800's, about what would become the province's first public park when B.C. was still just a colony.
"What a grand old park this whole hill would make," he added.
Queen's Park was established in 1887, 28 years after the City of New Westminster was, and since then has become the go-to site for clubs, an arena, a farmer's market, rose garden, and picnics - and the surrounding area home to some of the oldest houses around.
It serves as the crown jewel to the neighbourhood, and even the city, as the spacious 77-acre green space preceded the residential development. According to one resident born and raised in the area, those who were coming and going from Sapperton first called the neighbourhood "Coming into town."
"If you lived in the Queen's Park area, it was called 'coming to town," said local Maura Boguski. "Even my grandmother, who lived in Sapperton, said 'I'm coming to town," which would be this area and downtown."
The area has had a colourful history and rivals Sapperton in having some of the oldest houses in the area, according to Boguski.
The park is also home to the Salmonbellies, the men's senior 'A' lacrosse team, after a lacrosse club was founded in 1888.
The first Mann Cup was won in 1915, but was played by the field lacrosse team. In 1932, box lacrosse started and the Salmonbellies continue to play in that style.
The New West-based team has won more Mann Cups that any other lacrosse team, winning every decade since the trophy's inception. Fingers' are crossed to win the Mann Cup some time this decade, too.
Legend has it that the team got its name from a taunt by an opposing team's fan during a game. At the time, salmon was considered a lowly food. It didn't go as the team had planned as the players liked the name so much, the name was adopted and has stuck with them for more than a century.
