Nelson Daily News
June 9, 1936

Nelson Gyro Club Has Put $11,000 Into Improvements of Play Center Upon Bluff-

Concentrate Now Upon Beautifying the Grounds with Rock and Other Plans-- Many Nelsonites Fail to See Park-Swim Pool is Popular with the younger People early in Year.-

It has taken nearly $11,000 and 11 years to bring Gyro park to its present status as one of the beauty spots of Nelson. It will require considerably more money and time to make it the beautiful park the Gyro Club of Nelson envisions, but the dream of 11 years ago is well on the way to realization. And, remarkable though it may seem, the greatest appreciation of the park is voiced not by Nelson residents but by outsiders, visitors to the city, In fact, a great many have failed completely to realize what the Gyro club is doing on the bluff overlooking Kootenay Lake General hospital and comparatively few Nelsonites appreciate what the park may be in the next few years. Back of the story of $11,000 expended in 11 years is a tale of enthusiasm and persistence that at times has seemed hardly worthwhile.

The enthusiasm with which the Gyro Club in 1925 launched their community project, enthusiasm sufficient to bring members of the club away from their offices and stores to swing axes and picks and shovels, was sadly worn in the years that followed. But whenever enthusiasm lagged, there was always the pleasure of the children who used the to bring it to the fore again. Incidents which now provide the humour in the history of the park assumed the greatest proportion of tragedies then. "Jock" Gibson, former postmaster here, telephoning club officials one morning to ask "what the devil are you fellow doing?" It appeared that the clay bottom of the pool leaked and that Jock's cellar (below on Vernon St.) was catching the leakage. In fact, his cellar was flooded to the roof. A shaded rest room for mothers overlooking the pool, a lookout over the city, beautiful rock gardens laid out, a "scenic highway" the park, and other improvements have done much to bring more visitors to the park.

Editor's note:
The Gyro commitment of ideas, funds and labour to the park continues to this day. A new bathhouse was built and opened in 1996, part of the present goal of bringing the pool complex up to modern specifications. The park was originally known as Houston Park after the Mayor who dedicated so much of his life and funds to the city. He would undoubtedly approve of its present name as the Gyro's have continued histradition of service.

Editors Notes
by Shawn Lamb

History in the News