Introduction

Riverside Park is one of the city’s most well-loved and among the top places to visit in Kamloops. Soaking an unspoiled view of Thompson River from Riverside Park is my favorite thing to do. It also includes a water park and a spectacular green grass space overlooking mountains and rivers. Are you new to the Kamloops area? Are you looking for places to enjoy the weekend? Situated on the banks of sandy rivers, a day trip to a beautiful waterfront park is the best choice for students and newcomers to relax and unwind.

The public can have access to the park for free. This beautiful park is the biggest and best in the city, and it offers many fun things kids love. With the playgrounds, the waterpark, the beach, basketball hoops, and lots of space to run, bike, and scooter, there’s no end to the fun to be had here. Suppose you are tired of dining in a fancy restaurant. In that case, the park is a perfect choice for taking out some food at local restaurants and enjoying your meals with the picturesque natural scenery of Kamloops.

Location   

Located 5 mins walk from downtown, next to the Sandman center. Thompson rivers border the park and Lansdowne St. You will want to get into Lorraine Street headed West via either 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 10th avenues. You will see Riverside Park on your right. As you approach 1st Ave, turn off towards the park into Uji Way. Continue down this short drive, and the parking area is at the end. When walking, you’ll pass through a beautiful overline bridge that connects Riverside Park and Kamloops downtown, and crossing this is a challenging obstacle which is how people get to the park. The railway is right under the overline bridge. There is a Starbucks, and you can sit there for a short rest. There will be a train going by if you are lucky. You can hear the noise of the stop sign and see the train pass. Guardrails on the bridge keep us safe, but we cannot catch the train. Therefore, if you want to see the train, you can only walk on the bridge or see it on the side with the guardrails.

Why Riverside?

Many people choose Riverside Park to take a walk. At the entrance to the parking area, there is an information board, where a trail starts at the Japanese garden in Riverside Park and follows the river’s course through the waterfront park to the pioneer park—starting at the Japanese garden called Uji friendship garden. Uji is the sister city of Kamloops, and they support each other in promoting cultural awareness, economic development, and tourism. Both towns support students and groups in visiting each city to communicate. Then, you’ll head through Riverside Park along the beach. Then after passing under the train bridge, continue along the waterfront park until you reach the red bridge, which then wraps around the parking lot.

There are many art installations in and around the park, and one such art installation is the symbol of hope. The large metal piece of art spells ‘Hope’ out for everyone, with a big red heart for emphasis, and is a must-see attraction near the park. It is also an excellent spot for great photos.

You will also learn about the history and heritage of the park on-site. The Shuswap milling company operated on the southern shore, which we now know as Riverside Park. In 1885, the site that would eventually become the park was used as a campsite by Chinese Canadians from Savona’sferry working on the Canadian Pacific Railway. When the Shuswap Sawmill burned down in 1901, the City of Kamloops bought the land and transformed the space into a public park. Throughout the decades, beachgoers flocked to the park to escape the dry summer heat at the same time that fountains and flower beds were installed. In 2015, a community garden sprouted up at the park’s west end. In 2016, pickleball courts were established at the west end of the park with the support and lobbying efforts of the Kamloops Pickleball Club. Riverside Park has become a destination crafted by our community.

And, of course, the park hosts many unique events, like Music in the Park, and various celebrations throughout the spring and summer. It’s so fun to spend a day outside in the beautiful sun and warm weather we get here in Kamloops. Riverside Park is one of my favorite places to go and a perfect location for gorgeous sunset views, an ideal ending for your long traveling day.

Recommendations

Riverside Park is nicely kept and has a beautiful rose garden, an area for kids to play, tennis courts, and outstanding views. There is so much to do, and it is excellent for people of all ages, especially children. It is one of the must-stop locations because of a park in front of the water with lots of trees, a splash park, grass fields, a walking trail, and a beach. It is an excellent place to relax and watch the sunset at the pier because it has gorgeous views. Such a beautiful park with a fantastic idea in Kamloops; there’s so much to see here. I highly recommend it!

Anto Sojan Thaliath T00597427