STC150: Fitzgerald Park

St. Catharines is peppered with neighbourhood parks – playgrounds designed around providing leisure spaces for local families to play, participate in sports, and enjoy some green space as housing and industry built up in the core.

One such park is Fitzgerald Street Park, originally known as Queensway Park, a dedicated softball park in the city.

Queensway park was officially opened to the public on June 15, 1940 with a parade, including a float with a giant key to ceremonially open the park, and a series of softball games for the public to enjoy.

The St. Catharines Standard reported that the park was officially opened by Parks Management Board Chairman Major E.H. Lancaster, KC, who threw the first pitch to Mayor Charles Daley.

This photo shows Major Lancaster tossing the first ball to Mayor Daley while a large crowd is ready to enjoy some softball. (S1940.41.7.1)