Ed MacGregor Park is in the seaside community of Sooke, one of thirteen communities that form the Capital Regional District of British Columbia. Formally Harbor Park, this three quarters of a hectare park is located on the left past the streetlight along West Coast Road. The park was renamed Ed MacGregor Park to honor the first Mayor of Sooke which as incorporated in nineteen ninety nine. This water front park has a five hundred meter long boardwalk along the shore of Sooke Harbor. The park is located on the steep slopes of the harbor and has tall big leaf maple, alder, cedar, hemlock and fir trees that shade and shelter the parkland. The main park feature is a switch back boardwalk ramp that leads to the boardwalk along the shore. The switchback walkway allows pleasant wheel chair and strolling access down to the beach. The twenty meter drop to the beach and boardwalk is easier but means that there is a lot of walking back and forth down the ten switch backs. This wooden walkway has high wooden railings on both sides of the pathway. The entrance of the park, along the West Coast Road, has a tall carved log sign on a log that arches over the walkway. Wood carver Renaat Marchand carved the eight meter long cedar log to form an orca and eagle with sights of the coastal area. The concrete walkway leads into the landscaped garden. This upper area of the park has terraced slopes that are designed for seating while viewing the performances at the amphitheater. There are picnic tables, benches and toilets in this area. This park hosts the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra concerts and other community events in the Sooke area. MacGregor Park also has a rough trail that parallels the shoreline with benches to sit on. The boardwalk often has people fishing and crabbing while enjoying the waters of Sooke Harbor. This is a good place to walk in your back yard.
Geographic location N48º 22’ 23” W123º 43’ 29”
Ed MacGregor Park can be reached from the Trans Canada Highway. Take the Langford Parkway exit and follow along to reach Sooke Road (Hwy 14). Follow highway 14 to signage of the parkland on the left. There is a parking lot about two hundred meters from the park off of the West Coast Road. City buses travel along Sooke Road and the West Coast Road.
Walks in Your Backyard 