Jarry Park
| Jarry Park Parc Jarry | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Location of Jarry Park in Montreal | |
| Location | Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension, Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Coordinates | 45°32′06″N 73°37′42″W / 45.535025°N 73.628331°WCoordinates: 45°32′06″N 73°37′42″W / 45.535025°N 73.628331°W |
| Area | 36 hectares (89 acres) |
| Operated by | City of Montreal |
Jarry Park (French: Parc Jarry) is an urban park in the Villeray neighbourhood of Montreal. From 1969 to 1976, the former Jarry Park Stadium (located in the southwest corner of the park, now Uniprix Stadium) was the home of the Montreal Expos, Canada's first Major League Baseball team. It also hosted a Mass by Pope John Paul II. There is now a hall dedicated to him in District Police Station 31 (Villeray).
Facilities include softball, cricket and soccer fields, a skate park, tennis and basketball courts, a public pool and an artificial lake. In addition, there is a monument called "Paix des enfants" ("Children's Peace"), consisting of violent toys fused together.
The park is bordered by Gary-Carter Street to the south, Rue Jarry to the north, Boulevard Saint-Laurent to the east, and the Canadian Pacific rail tracks to the west.
The park was named in honour of Raoul Jarry (1885–1930), a member of Montreal's City Council.
On 24 June 1965, Jarry Park hosted the great show on Saint John Baptiste Day, (La Saint-Jean Baptiste), the French-Canadian annual celebration day. Since 1977 it is now officially called Quebec's National Holiday,[1] (La fête nationale du Québec). That year, Jarry Park was chosen to present the most important event of the celebrations. 40,000 people came to hear some of Québec's most acclaimed singers; namely Pauline Julien, Clémence Desrochers, Jean-Pierre Ferland, Christine Charbonneau, Hervé Brousseau, Les Cailloux, Pierre Calvé, Renée Claude et Pierre Létourneau.
References
- ↑ "'Quebec's National Holiday' on 24 June, specially designated in 1977",http://www.bonjourquebec.com/qc-en/events-directory/festival-special-event/quebecs-national-holiday_1413304.html
