Munson park is a narrow band situated on the river in the Crescentwood district of Winnipeg. It is oddly not very noticeable even though it is located along a major street with large residential homes and a few fancy condos. I haven't been there in 20 years I think.
It is not that large a park and not very busy, but has lovely vistas of the river. The brush close to the river looks pretty wild and natural to Manitoba but with the addition of tons of rhubarb growing wild, a reminder of early homesteads. The center part of the park is quite open and --- well park like. When we were there there were a few couples going for walks a couple of older individuals walking their dog, and a young woman in a nice suit eating her bag lunch. The grass in the center had a man on the ground doing his yoga moves with great seriousness and concentration.
John Munsen, a prominent Winnipeg lawyer, had his farm estate and home constructed here on the river in 1889.
It next became the home of the Richardson family in 1919 and they eventually had the house demolished and then donated the property to the city for a park in 1976.
The trail still running through the park was a transportation trail along the river dating to the days of the fur trade and used by traders and early pioneers traveling west from Upper Fort Gary.
Very cool to think that we were walking a path has been in use through the whole history of our city.
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I like the pictures along with history of the park. I first heard about the Richardson family in Kenora, Ontario. Donating a park to Winnipeg is amaziing, but donating a park with history. If I understand correctly, the trails go back to the earliest settlers in Winnipeg. I find that very extrordinary. Nice to see, and thanks for sharing the story.
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