Tipperary Park, identified in 1859 to 1863, along with many other areas in the City, was identified by the Columbia Detachment of Royal Engineers, as park and government reserves. The residents in the vicinity of the reserve named the camp ‘New Tipperary’ from the fact that a few immigrants from the ‘ould dart’ were among its inhabitants. Tipperary Park was originally one of three government reserves upon which Colonel Moody and the Royal Engineers planned to build the government buildings for the capital city of the Colony of British Columbia. These sites were laid out in the extension to the original city above Royal Avenue in 1862. The central square (now city hall and Friendship Gardens) was flanked by two minor squares; the western square located across Sixth Street became home to the city’s first public school, and the eastern square - now Tipperary Park - was always used as a park square. Tipperary Park was formally conveyed to the city’s ownership from the province in 1908, and vested forever in trust “for the recreation and enjoyment of the public.” Tipperary Park was developed in 1911 following landscape architect G.L.K. MacLean’s vision. Today it offers a quiet place with picnic tables, benches, pathways, and is the home of the New Westminster Tennis Club. The area of Friendship Garden was also once known as a part of Tipperary Park. Tipperary Park, established in 1963, is 3.79 acres, offers visitors with tranquillity, monuments, public art and unique ponds. The Peace Marker is a memorial for Peace in four languages English, French, Spanish, Chinese. There are a number of commemorative trees throughout the park.
In 1962, the Friendship Park area was a forested grove behind City Hall. That year a typhoon blew through the area and uprooted many large trees leaving huge holes where their roots had been torn up. A member of the Parks and Recretion Department's gardening staff knew and loved Japanese water gardens, and so the holes on the newly damaged landscape, gently sloping across the property, were redeveloped into a beautiful garden. The Friendship Gardens were built in 1963 as a tribute to New Westminster's sister city - Moriguchi, Japan. This area is now a favourite place for those seeking quiet contemplation and picturesque views, and for those looking for a special place for wedding photos.
