Riley Park is a midtown neighbourhood in Vancouver, British Columbia, bounded in clockwise order from the north by 16th Avenue, Fraser Street, 41st Avenue, and finally Cambie Street on the west with SkyTrain stations at King Edward and 41st Avenues. Main Street, the principal commercial thoroughfare p;arallel to Cambie and Fraser, bisects the neighbourhood into nearly even east and west halves. Probably the most picturesque neighbourhood landscapes, Mountainview Cemetery in the eastern half and Queen Elizabeth Park in the western, are in the city area of highest elevation, Little Mountain, 500 feet above sea level, a former name for the neighbourhood from the days when it was much smaller.
Overpopulation has not been a problem in Riley Park lately. There has been a gradual, hardly perceptible decrease from 21,990 in 2001 to 21,815 in 2006 to 21,795 in 2011, year of the most recent quinquennial census. Nearly 40 percent of residents are immigrants, mostly Chinese and Filipino. Average family annual income is nearly $89,000, and nearly 49 percent of residents have university degrees.
History & Heritage
In the late 19th Century, neighbourhood pioneers cut logging trails around the base of Little Mountain, and quarry workers mined its volcanic rock for use as pavement for the area’s first roads. The plan to transform the quarries into sunken gardens took hold in the 1930s, King George VI dedicated the park in a 1939 visit, and in 1940 Little Mountain formally became Queen Elizabeth Park in honor of the king’s consort.
Over the next 15 years, the Vancouver Park Board converted the land into lushly sculpted sunken gardens. With landscaping complete by the mid-1950s, the park reached its present splendor. Meanwhile, Mountainview Cemetery, owned and maintained by the city since 1886, now has new spaces available for the first time in more than 20 years in lots purchased before 1940 but never claimed.
Olympic Legacy
In Hillcrest Park across Midlothian Avenue from Queen Elizabeth Park, the Hillcrest Centre served as the venue for the 2010 Winter Olympics curling event. Constructed with post-Olympic community recreation in mind, this multifaceted athletic facility operates an aquatic center, a fitness center, a year-round ice-skating rink, a dance studio, game rooms, athletic fields, and sports instructional programs. The Vancouver Park Board and the Riley Park Community Association jointly administer the complex.
In the same area as the Queen Elizabeth and Hillcrest parks, in a playground near Ontario Street and 33rd Avenue there is an artificial boulder that has become a neighbourhood landmark since its fabrication in 2002. Climbers who enjoy this alternative to costly indoor climbing gyms expect the boulder to remain there for a long time. “It’s absolutely indestructible and will be here in the next glacier era,” says an acrobatics instructor for CircusWest, a Vancouver performing arts society. Despite the boulder’s popularity, however, the park board probably will not build another because of cost and potential liability. The boulder budget more than doubled during fabrication, and a new one could cost as much as $100,000.
Welcome to this charming character home in Main/Fraser's finest location! Come see this completely renovated home (in 2011) boasting Brazilian cherry floors, slate tile, new electrical, plumbing, gas, kitchen, baths, lighting, hot water on demand, and windows. Enter into the large living room with gas fireplace, dining area, and open gourmet kitchen , and a sunny Eastern facing deck,- perfect for entertaining! Large primary bedroom with spa like ensuite also on the main floor. Below is an additional large bedroom and laundry. Bonus is a 1 (potential 2 )bedroom suite complete with full kitchen, separate entry, and full bath. The choices are yours! Stunning back garden with vegggie patch plus a great front garden patio. Lots of storage. Easy to show! OPEN HOUSE SUN MARCH 31, 2-4 pmMore details
Welcome to opportunity, 7 bedroom 4 bathroom detached home spread out over 3 levels of living on an impressive lot. This well-built Vancouver special is a blank canvas waiting for your design ideas and personal touches. Home features 4 bedrooms upstairs a large primary with full ensuite. The main level offers ample space with an open living & dining room and a bedroom/office space. Downstairs offers a self-contained 1 bedroom suite that could be easily converted to 2 with separate entrances. Rear offers a detached double-car garage with additional parking spots and lane access. The desirable and quiet tree-lined street location is ideal for a family as you are within a short walking distance to school, shopping, transit, and amenities.. Call today for a viewingMore details
BRAND NEW, SIDE-BY-SIDE DUPLEX in the heart of LITTLE MOUNTAIN/RILEY PARK. Just a stone's throw from HILLCREST COMMUNITY CENTRE & QUEEN ELIZABETH PARK. No expense has been spared in this home. Features include AIR CONDITIONING, RADIANT HEAT, Control4 SMART HOME, ON-DEMAND hot water, built in vac, just to name a few. The main floor features a SPACIOUS & versatile OPEN CONCEPT floor plan with OVER-HEIGHT CEILINGS, a beautiful kitchen with FISHER & PAYKEL appliances and a LARGE ISLAND, as well as a dining area that can also be used as a family room, which opens up to your SOUTH FACING PATIO. On the top 2 floors, you will find 3 LARGE BEDROOMS, including 2 with beautiful ensuite bathrooms, a dedicated laundry room, & spectacular MOUNTAIN VIEWS. Comes with a GARAGE + a 2nd GATED PARKING SPOT.More details
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION meets modern SOPHISTICATION. Brand new SIDE by SIDE half DUPLEX, just a stone's throw from QUEEN ELIZABETH PARK and HILLCREST Community Centre. The main floor features a bright, OPEN CONCEPT floor plan, a gourmet kitchen with a GAS STOVE, Fisher & Paykel appliances, and a LARGE ISLAND that’s perfect for entertaining. The large family room opens up to your fully fenced SOUTH FACING back yard. Upstairs you will find 3 large bedrooms, including 2 with ensuite bathrooms, a dedicated laundry room, and 2 balconies with STUNNING MOUNTAIN VIEWS. This home features RADIANT in-floor heating, heat pump AIR CONDITIONING, HRV, Control4 SMART HOME system, 4-CAMERA SECURITY system, ON-DEMAND HOT WATER and BUILT-IN VAC. Also includes a GARAGE and a 2nd, GATED PARKING spot.More details
Circa 1910 Main Street. Same owners since 1980, this home has been well-maintained and many of its original features such as stained glass, wood burning fireplace, wainscotting and fir floors have been preserved. 2 bedrooms and open flex space up with full bath, mudroom, enclosed front porch and mountain views. Living, dining and kitchen with breakfast nook, pantry and deck overlooking quaint urban garden. Wonderful 36' wide lot allows for nice open side yard and light for all 3 levels of the home. 2 bedroom suite down with large bath and jetted tub. Webber is a quiet side street 1 block from Main + King Edward and all of the stores, bars and restaurants Main St is famous for. 2 resident only street parking in front and no back lane.More details