| For More Information... |
| Parks Info |
| City of Chilliwack |
| Parks, Recreation & Culture Department |
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8550 Young Road
Chilliwack, BC
V2P 8A4 |
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| Phone: (604) 793-2904 |
| Fax: (604) 795-8443 |
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Gwynne-Vaughan Park
We are the beneficiaries of a valuable gift. A heritage home on 6.8 acres of prime residential land that was willed to the District of Chilliwack for the use by the community as a park. The Gwynne Vaughan Park Society undertook the responsibility of administering the Park for the District, and as a result of the work of Society members, the beautiful gardens and trees have been restored by cleaning, weeding, pruning and maintenance. This in turn inspired ideas from many interested people and organizations, leading to many hours of planning and eventual creation of a unique and beautiful community park.
The grounds and buildings which the Gwynne Vaughan Park Society manages are part truly "human documents" which communicate the ideas and values of the time period in which they were built and of those that built them.
Adelaide Gwynne Vaughan
... was born to Welsh parents in the century-old Driscoll house the Society is preserving today, and lived most of her life there. "Gwynnie", as she was affectionately called, was an enthusiastic gardener, with active membership in the Chilliwack Horticultural Society (now the Chilliwack Garden Club). A trophy for the best narcissus in the Spring Show is still awarded annually in her name. She enjoyed a good game of bridge with close friends, and was an expert badminton player. Gwynnie married Sam Bateman in the early '50s and lived in Saskatchewan for a few years, and then returned to the Fraser Valley, where they lived in her old home enjoying their garden and wide circle of friends.
Society Achievements
The Usher family generously made a substantial donation to help establish the Gwynne Vaughan Park Society, which has worked diligently to make the Park a unique place for the whole community to enjoy. There is a new paved path, new fences, signs and lighting in the parking lot. The house has been given a new roof, exterior paint job, insulation, up-dated wiring and windows and basement animal-proofing, while our tenants have painted and cared for the interior. The garden shed has been refurbished, reroofed and a washroom installed as a result of a donation by the Chilliwack Rotary Club. The Chilliwack Fraser Rotary Club has also generously supported and raised funds for the new Gwynne Vaughan Park Rotary Pavilion, west of the parking lot. A new garden shed was built and donated by Sardis Secondary students. Our Senior Allotment Gardens have been a great success. We currently have 20 garden plots assigned. They provide a great opportunity for gardeners to produce fresh vegetables and flowers, to meet new friends and to enjoy the park.
Numerous donations have been received for memorial benches, trees, equipment, plants and paving stones. The District of Chilliwack as well as businesses, individuals, community groups and volunteers continue to support the Park with funds and personal effort, without which the Park could not survive.
"Friends of the Park"
A new group, "Friends of the Park", under the guidance of Linda Carrabetta (landscape architect) continues to assist in planning, designing, maintaining and expanding the garden beds. The Friends are grateful for the earlier guidance of Ken Wilson (horticulturist) in establishing the newer garden beds. When it became clear the our Spring and Fall work days could not meet the maintenance requirements for the Park, the Friends group was formed and meets Tuesday mornings from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Anyone is welcome to join and learn more about plants and gardening.
Our main fundraising event of the year is our Plant Sale and Garden Craft Show, held at the park the first Saturday of June.
Historical Dates
| 1896 |
House built for Alfred Driscoll. |
| 1902 |
House and land sold to council member D.E. Gwynn Vaughan (15 acres). |
| 1907 |
Adelaide Gwynne Vaughan born. Landscaping by Bateman and Gwynne Vaughan family. |
| 1993 |
Land and house donated to city for a park by Gwynne Vaughan. |
| 1995 |
Gwynne Vaughan Park Society formed by city council member Doug Steinson. |
| 1996 |
Ron Duke established allotment gardens with $1,000 donation from Chilliwack Rotary Club. |
| 1997 |
First plant sale, June 14 at Glen Thelin yard; major cash gift from Usher estate and from Guinets; non-profit tax number received. |
| 1998 |
Parking lot improved; $5,000 received from Chilliwack Rotary Club for washrooms; roof shingled. |
| 1999 |
New sign carved and new wooden rail fence made by Dan Coulter; attic and porch ceiling insulated. |
| 2000 |
Exterior of house scraped and painted; washroom added to garden shed; major cash gift received from Guinets. |
| 2001 |
Paving stone walkway completed; Friends of the Park formed under Ken Wilson; Chilliwack Fraser Rotary Garden pavilion started. |
| 2002 |
Memorial trees labeled; heritage award received by Society |
| 2003 |
7th Annual Plant Sale and Strawberry Tea netted $10,000; new tent purchased; laundry floor replaced; sink installed in downstairs washroom; vents and air ducts cleaned; exterior of house scraped and painted again; first Holly Sale December 2003. |
| 2004 |
Windows replaced with heritage style vinyl windows; Chilliwack Fraser Rotary Garden Pavilion dedicated June 2, 2004; cedar hedging on William St. cut back. |
| 2005 |
9th Annual Garden Party and Plant Sale. |
Gwynne Vaughan Park Society Elective 2005
| Chair |
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Jack Covey |
| Vice Chair |
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Archie Young |
| Treasurer |
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Norma Coxall |
| Secretary |
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Beth Gillespie |
| Directors |
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Isabel Quinn |
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Jack Allen |
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Pat Dunn |
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Phyllis Keen |
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Ann Knowlan |
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Barbara Thorkelson |
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| City Council Liaison |
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Dorothy Kostrzewa |
| Parks, Recreation & Culture |
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Mike Brass |
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