Montebello Park
{{Short description|Park in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada}}
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| name = Montebello Park
| image = St. Catharines Montebello Park.jpg
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| image_caption = The band shell and pavilion at Montebello Park
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| location = 64 Ontario Street, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
| coordinates = {{Coord|43.15837|N|79.25139|W|region:CA-ON_type:landmark}}
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| designer = Frederick Law Olmsted
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Montebello Park is a public park in downtown St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. It features a commemorative rose garden and an ornamental fountain. The focal point of the park is a historic band shell and pavilion used for festivals. The park and its pavilion are designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.{{cite web |url=https://www.heritagetrust.on.ca/en/oha/details/file?id=1902 |website=Ontario Heritage Trust |title=By-law 78-364|access-date=4 November 2023}}
Early history
The City of St. Catharines purchased the site in 1887 for the city's first public park. The city commissioned Frederick Law Olmsted, who had created New York City's Central Park, to design the park.{{cite web |title=History from Here: Montebello Park |url=https://stcatharinesmuseumblog.com/2023/10/10/history-from-here-montebello-park/ |website=St. Catharines Museum |access-date=31 October 2023}} A pavilion was constructed on the foundation of the original Merritt estate in 1888.{{cite web |title=Montebello Park |url=https://exhibits.library.brocku.ca/s/gardens-in-niagara/page/montebello-park |website=Brock University |access-date=31 October 2023}} A covered circular bandstand modelled after the one built for the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, was constructed in the park by Edwin Nicholson.{{cite web |last1=Gannon |first1=Dennis |title=Yesterday and Today: Much of St. Catharines-built heritage is owed to E.C. Nicholson |url=https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/topics/local-history/yesterday-and-today-much-of-st-catharines-built-heritage-is-owed-to-e-c-nicholson/article_8974a35c-cbf0-5a0a-aacb-bdf752b02698.html |website=St. Catharines Standard |access-date=31 October 2023}} Dances were held upon the pavilion every Saturday night until the 1940s.
In 1948, a case was heard in the Supreme Court of Canada, after the death of a child in Montebello Park after a structure collapsed on her during Victory over Japan Day celebrations. Two other children were injured. The judges decided that park management were negligent in their actions.{{cite web |title=Booth et al. v. City of St. Catharines et al., [1948] S.C.R. 564 |url=https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/3671/index.do?q=inside |website=Supreme Court of Canada |access-date=4 November 2023}}
Renovations
In 2016, the rose garden was renovated. During these renovations, only the rose garden was closed, with other areas open to the public.{{cite web |title=Montebello Park rose garden to be renovated |url=https://www.niagarathisweek.com/news/montebello-park-rose-garden-to-be-renovated/article_96f75ff3-9ee8-5178-911e-151bd3acbd77.html? |website=Niagara This Week |access-date=4 November 2023}} In 2018, the pavilion was renovated to repair and replace flooring and railings. The pavilion was not able to be rented or used during the renovation.{{cite web |last1=Hutton |first1=Richard |title=Renovation work set to begin at Montebello Park pavilion |url=https://www.niagarathisweek.com/news/renovation-work-set-to-begin-at-montebello-park-pavilion/article_3b5e8824-1c55-5673-afc8-945183e907ee.html |website=Niagara This Week |access-date=4 November 2023}} In 2022, a new playground was built to replace the one previously built in 1998, with improved safety and accessibility features.{{cite web |last1=Walter |first1=Karena |title=St. Catharines’ latest accessible playground starting construction |url=https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/niagara-region/st-catharines-latest-accessible-playground-starting-construction/article_01344381-a2dc-5a2c-a6a4-57507ed29588.html |website=St. Catharines Standard |access-date=4 November 2023}}
References
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External links
{{commons category|Montebello Park}}
- [https://facilities.stcatharines.ca/Home/Detail?Id=e8ee9fe1-7257-4eae-a4b6-56983dee10a2 Official City of St. Catharines page for Montebello Park]
{{St. Catharines}}