Located at the corner of Davie and Richards Street in Vancouver's Downtown South neighborhood (at the edge of Yaletown), the 2.3 acre Emery Barnes Park is named after community activist and BC MLA Emery Barnes.
Originally born in Louisiana, Emery Barnes grew up in Oregon before coming to Canada, where he played in the CFL for both the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the BC Lions (where he won the Grey Cup in 1964). After his football career, Mr. Barnes received a degree in Social Work from UBC, prior to becoming a social worker.
In the late 1960's he entered politics, and was first elected in 1972 as an NDP MLA representing the riding of Vancouver Centre. Emery Barnes went on to be re-elected four times, until he finally retired in 1996 after serving as the Speaker of the Legislature since 1994. Mr. Barnes died of cancer in 1998.
Emery Barnes Park was officially opened in September 2003, within the riding that Mr. Barnes served for almost 25 years. Known for its fountains and flowing stream, the park has been designed to provide an open green space for the surrounding neighborhood.
It is one of three parks in the Downtown South area, including Yaletown Park, which is currently under construction, and a third park that is to be built nearby Richards and Smithe. The three parks are being developed as part of a goal to bring 4.5 acres of park space to the 11,000 residents who will be living in the area within the next 10 years.
