Shubie Park
Encyclopedia
Shubie Park is a 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) urban park in Dartmouth
, Nova Scotia
maintained by the Halifax Regional Municipality.
Heavily forested, Shubie Park is roughly linear in shape as it is bounded on the north and west by Highway 118
expressway and on the south and east by Lake Micmac
and the southern edge of Lake Charles. A portion of the abandoned Shubenacadie Canal
passes through the park, from which the park takes its name.
The land comprising Shubie Park was part of a larger estate called "Countryview" that had been established in 1722 as the King's wood lot, providing mast
s for the Royal Navy
. In 1783, the Countryview estate became the first royal land grant in Dartmouth, issued by King George III to naval mast maker Samuel Greenwood.
Since then, the land has exchanged hands several times, and in recent decades became home to industry including a rock quarry, asphalt plant and construction and demolition dump. At the time that Highway 118 was extended through the area on the northwest side of Lake Micmac during the 1960s-1970s, the remaining undeveloped land of the Countryview Estate bordering the greenbelt between the highway and lake was set aside as a municipal park for the City of Dartmouth.
The municipality developed the park primarily as a green space, although an area bordering Lake Charles was established with a beach, day use picnic area and campground - all operated since a 1996 municipal amalgamation by the Halifax Regional Municipality.
Shubie Park contains trails and an interpretive area called the Fairbanks Centre next to the canal at the location of a series of locks between Lake Micmac and Lake Charles. The Fairbanks Centre features a scale model of canal lock mechanisms and various displays. The wooded trails of the Shubie Canal Park follow a remaining section of the canal and include part of the Trans-Canada Trail.
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Dartmouth founded in 1750, is a community and planning area of the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia. Located on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour, Dartmouth has been nicknamed the City of Lakes after the large number of lakes located in the city.On April 1, 1996, the provincial...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
maintained by the Halifax Regional Municipality.
Heavily forested, Shubie Park is roughly linear in shape as it is bounded on the north and west by Highway 118
Nova Scotia Highway 118
Highway 118, in Nova Scotia, is a short suburban freeway connecting Victoria Road via Woodland Ave. in Dartmouth with Highway 102 at Fall River, to the north. The highway crosses the Historic Shubenacadie Canal. Running parallel to the highway from the Waverley Road to exit 14 is a portion of...
expressway and on the south and east by Lake Micmac
Lake Micmac
Lake Micmac is a small freshwater lake located in the Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia, Canada.Located entirely within the community of Dartmouth, Lake Micmac is also known as 'Second Lake' for its position in the Shubenacadie Canal system....
and the southern edge of Lake Charles. A portion of the abandoned Shubenacadie Canal
Shubenacadie Canal
The Shubenacadie Canal is a Canadian canal in central Nova Scotia, linking Halifax Harbour with Shubenacadie Grand Lake which drains into the Bay of Fundy by way of the Shubenacadie River. Currently small craft use the river and lakes, but no locks are fully operational...
passes through the park, from which the park takes its name.
The land comprising Shubie Park was part of a larger estate called "Countryview" that had been established in 1722 as the King's wood lot, providing mast
Mast (sailing)
The mast of a sailing vessel is a tall, vertical, or near vertical, spar, or arrangement of spars, which supports the sails. Large ships have several masts, with the size and configuration depending on the style of ship...
s for the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. In 1783, the Countryview estate became the first royal land grant in Dartmouth, issued by King George III to naval mast maker Samuel Greenwood.
Since then, the land has exchanged hands several times, and in recent decades became home to industry including a rock quarry, asphalt plant and construction and demolition dump. At the time that Highway 118 was extended through the area on the northwest side of Lake Micmac during the 1960s-1970s, the remaining undeveloped land of the Countryview Estate bordering the greenbelt between the highway and lake was set aside as a municipal park for the City of Dartmouth.
The municipality developed the park primarily as a green space, although an area bordering Lake Charles was established with a beach, day use picnic area and campground - all operated since a 1996 municipal amalgamation by the Halifax Regional Municipality.
Shubie Park contains trails and an interpretive area called the Fairbanks Centre next to the canal at the location of a series of locks between Lake Micmac and Lake Charles. The Fairbanks Centre features a scale model of canal lock mechanisms and various displays. The wooded trails of the Shubie Canal Park follow a remaining section of the canal and include part of the Trans-Canada Trail.