MacDonald Park is in the seaside city of Victoria, one of thirteen communities that form the Capital Regional District of British Columbia. Designed for outdoor sports like baseball, soccer and rugby, the grass fields in MacDonald Park cover about three and a third hectares. Macdonald Park was formed from the large estate and home of William John MacDonald, called Armadale, that was built in eighteen seventy seven. Mr. MacDonald served as the mayor of Victoria in eighteen sixty six and was a Hudson Bay Company merchant that became a politician. He was appointed a Canadian senator in eighteen seventy one and sat for forty four years. Bordered by Simcoe, Niagara and Montreal streets in the James Bay community of Victoria, B.C., MacDonald Park also borders on James Bay Community and Elementary School. There are permanent bleachers along the baseball field and some parts of the rugby fields. The James Bay Athletic Association clubhouse in located in the northwestern side of the parkland at 206 Simcoe and is home to rugby, mostly, but also rowing, baseball and running teams. This association was established in eighteen eighty six along the shores of the Inner Harbour of Victoria, B.C. Earnest Todd Park with a playset is across the alley to the west as is the James Bay Community Gardens. MacDonald Park is about a block away from Odgen Point Park and Holland Point Park. Fisherman’s Wharf and Irving parks are also nearby.
Geographic coordinates N48° 24′ 59” W123° 22′ 51″
MacDonald Park can be reached from the Trans Canada Highway. Follow the highway as it becomes Douglas Street. Turn left onto Finlayson Street, to avoid the one way section of Douglas Street that is in the downtown area of Victoria. Turn right off of Finlayson Street onto Blanchard Street. Stay on Blanchard as it curves to become Belleville Street. Follow Belleville Street along the waterfront of Victoria Harbour to reach Oswego Street. The park is behind the school at the junction of Simcoe and Oswego Streets. There is limited street side parking and a small parking area off of Simcoe Street. City buses travel along Oswego Street.
Walks in Your Backyard 