Central Memorial Park is a park located in central Calgary's Beltline district. Sometimes referred to as Central Park or as Memorial Park, the area is home to the Memorial Park Library

Calgary Public Library

The Calgary Public Library is a distributed library system featuring 17 branch locations including the Central Library. It is the second most used system in Canada...

, an equestrian statue of R.L. Boyle, and a cenotaph

Cenotaph

A cenotaph is an "empty tomb" or a monument erected in honour of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere. It can also be the initial tomb for a person who has since been interred elsewhere. The word derives from the Greek κενοτάφιον = kenotaphion...

. The former Colonel Belcher veterans hospital was located across 4th street SW to the West, now the site of the Sheldon M. Chumir Centre

Sheldon M. Chumir Centre

The Sheldon M. Chumir Centre is a health centre located in Calgary, Alberta. The facility is administered by the Calgary Zone of Alberta Health Services...

.

History

The park occupies one entire city block between 11th and 12th Avenues SW, bounded by 2nd and 4th Streets. Totalling 4.68 acres (18,939.3 m²), the park was designed in 1889 and landscaped in Victorian style.

The park went through a major revitalization in 2008-2009 at a cost of $

Canadian dollar

The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...

11.5 million, and the renovated park was re-opened in May 2010.

Monuments

The statue of R.L. Boyle is unusual in that his name is not inscribed on the monument. Rather than memorializing him personally, the statue is intended as a tribute to all Albertans who fought in the Second Boer War

Second Boer War

The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...

, and the dates 1899-1902 are inscribed on the pedestal.

There is also a statue outside the Memorial Park branch of the Calgary Public Library

Calgary Public Library

The Calgary Public Library is a distributed library system featuring 17 branch locations including the Central Library. It is the second most used system in Canada...

 at the park's eastern end of a First World War era soldier, erected by the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire

Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire

The Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire is a women's charitable organization based in Canada. The club was originally titled the "Federation of Daughters of the British Empire", which was founded by Margaret Clark Murray in 1900...

 after the war.

Activities

Annual civic wreath laying commemorating Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth...

 occur on November 11. ANZAC Day

ANZAC Day

Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. It now more broadly commemorates all...

is also commemorated annually each April at the cenotaph.