Pioneer Place/Pigeon Park

In 1938, the CPR deeded the land to the City, and Pioneer Place was born, named after the Pioneer Association that proposed that the site become a park.

By 1960 the park was a popular hangout for “immigrant laborers, old age pensioners and bay rum drinkers” who came to socialize and feed the pigeons. A few trees, benches and planters mark this space that was once the CPR right of way that cut a diagonal through the city.

The park is still heavily used by people and on Sundays is the site of an outdoor street market for the local community. People refer to it as Pigeon Park, often without realizing its official Park Board name, Pioneer Place (once Pioneer Square).

Source

Past Tense Blog

More information

http://pasttensevancouver.tumblr.com/post/42516535672/pigeonpark1960s