Oxford Park, Montreal
| Oxford Park Parc Oxford | |
|---|---|
  Location of Oxford Park in Montreal | |
| Location | Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Coordinates | 45°28′08″N 73°36′27″W / 45.468816°N 73.607468°WCoordinates: 45°28′08″N 73°36′27″W / 45.468816°N 73.607468°W |
| Operated by | City of Montreal |
Oxford Park is a park in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is located in the southern part of the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighbourhood in the borough of Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce. While known informally as Oxford Park for many years, with activities operated by the Oxford Park Association, the City of Montreal formally named the park Georges Saint-Pierre during the 1990s in honour of the founder of the local Caisse Populaire Saint-Raymond, a community credit union.
The park was made famous for its sporting tradition. Hockey greats as Doug Harvey, Howie Morenz, Kenny Mosdell and Fleming Mackell learned their crafts on the outdoor rink which was part of a larger neighbourhood house league, including such teams at Terrebonne Park, Benny Park, and Patricia Park. The park was also where boxing legend Johnny Greco played sports as a child. The park is bounded by Oxford, Upper Lachine, Old Orchard Avenue and Saint Jacques Street.
The park was initially part of a farm owned by the Brodie clan, who bought the land after arriving from Scotland.[1]
After several generations the family sold to the city of Montreal in 1949 for $73,000 under the condition that the historic farmhouse would be turned into a library or facility for children. The city reneged on this clause and the stone building was demolished in the 1960s.
The park was also home to a longstanding Italian Festival which was cancelled after the city added a controversial fenced-off plastic turf soccer field, which could get damaged during fireworks.[2]
References
- ↑ 'Robert Brodie's memoirs- an excerpt', Coolopolis blog (Montreal), December 27, 2007.
- ↑ Gravenor, Kristian (2005-07-07). "The tragedy of Brodie farm". Montreal Mirror. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
- Harvey's No. 2 Habs sweater to be retire]d early this season by Tim Burke. The Gazette. Montreal, Que.: Sep 5, 1985. pg. F.1
