One of the massive stumps in Maple Grove Park
Named after the beautiful trees found here, Maple Grove Park offers a quick spot for relaxing in the middle of the city. Maple Grove takes up just one city block in Kerrisdale and offers a variety of things to enjoy.
Most noticeably, there are half a dozen massive tree stumps throughout the park. They’ve been purposefully retained since 1913 as a reminder of the temperate rainforest that used to cover the area. The stumps are fun to marvel at, and kids especially will enjoy that you can crawl inside some of them.
A reminder of the trees that used to be here. Photo: Robyn Petrik
The most popular attraction in the park is Maple Grove Pool. It’s a heated wading pool with a maximum depth of only 3.5 feet, so it’s perfect for the whole family. It is wheelchair accessible and includes a mini island and cafe. The pool is usually open from June until September, and you can check the city’s website for more details.
There are two fairly grassy baseball diamonds, which I think are perfectly suited for a game of California Kickball with friends. The greenspace also makes this a good park for playing soccer, frisbee, or maybe even wide games. If you’re in the mood to just relax instead, there are plenty of tall trees on either end of the park where you can cozy up and read for a couple hours.
Part of the picnic area. Photo: Robyn Petrik
The southern end of the park has plenty of picnic tables within the trees and two BBQs for public use. It’s a nice area to host a gathering, and if you’re expecting more than 25 people, you can reserve the site ahead of time.
Of course, there’s a decent sized playground here in Maple Grove along with a smaller set of equipment for younger kids. Next to the park are two sets of swings, including toddler swings. You’ll even find pull up bars and rings, in case any grown ups want to sneak in a workout.
The larger half of the playground. Photo: Robyn Petrik
All in all, if you find yourself near the Kerrisdale area, Maple Grove Park makes for a nice place to escape to in good weather.
