Emery Barnes Park

Great park. Clean and pretty. Doesn’t feel like you’re in the middle of Downtown. Something for everyone. From baby swings for those less than 1y.o. to more advanced playground structures for the older kids on a padded ground, water features to play in, picnic benches to lounge on, gated dog park to separate the kids from the pets. Gets crowded when its a nice summer day and all the neighborhood kids come out to play. Menchies and Yaletown Gelato within a block or 2 away means kids can get a treat after all the playground fun.
Wish they had more swings (only have 2) and rarely, but sometimes, dog owners unleash their dogs in the grass by the kids area instead of in the gated dog area. Oh, and with all the weed shops nearby, you may occassionally see/​smell some users though they usually stay on the outskirts of the park and don’t bother anyone.

I don’t really call this a park, however, it is the closest thing to in the middle of downtown. There is a fair amount of grass, mostly concrete structures. You can sit and have some quiet time, however, being downtown it has a different vibe to it. Not worth venturing out to even though it is well maintained. Hold out for the real parks. This is decent as a pit stop.

This park is gorgeous if only for the water feature alone! Other than Andy Livingstone Park, where you have to contend with the IV drug users everywhere, this is the only other park I’ve seen a miniature river in a park! I guess this little bit of green amongst the sea of glass is the city’s way of maintaining their promise of green space.

Best park I’ve been to hands down! Clean, friendly people, doggy park& up to date playground equipment… oh and a sweet river for kids and a mini waterfall thing! America should take some notes from Vancouver BC on how to build a nice park! We’re just visiting Canada from Washington state and wow what a difference!

nice inner city park for DT, a quick pit stop compared to English Bay or Stanley Park.
Lots of dogs here, so not really recommended to pull out a beach towel to do any tanning or picnic but lots of benches around.
Lots of street parking on Seymour or Richards.
Just sucks that a condo developer is planning to tear it down; Yaletown residents are taking the city to court.

Love this park so much, sadly a lot of people keep letting their dogs unleashed in areas they are not supposed to. I love animals, and it’s understandable that they need space to run. In my case, my dog is a runner and still not neutered (planning to do it next year since he has some medical issues) so, he gets all cranky with some dogs. I always have him on-​leash and kindly ask people to call their dogs back in case mine is reacting to them (so, BOTH animals don’t get in to trouble). Sadly I had an encounter with a guy with a Labrador off-​leash (out side the permitted area of course) that insist that my dog needed to «learn» when my dog clearly wanted to fight and I was trying to control him (he actually said I was doing the right thing, STILL HE DIDN’T CALL HIS DOG).
He refused to move his (really sweet and well behaved) dog doesn’t matter how many times I asked and explained to him that he had to respect other owners decisions and that I was trying to avoid a confrontation between them or even worse… My dog biting his…
Clearly this person feels he has the duty to force acknowledge to people about dog behavior. I accept mine it’s a little territorial, and I always make sure to keep him and others dogs safe, he actually have some friends and reacts just to some dogs. Still is a BIG PROBLEM when other owners (several times, with amazing pets) just don’t listen and force themselves in to a situation you are trying to avoid.
I don’t mind animals OFF LEASH, I know they shouldn’t be, but I don’t mind… what I mind is somebody that shows this kind of behavior.
The park it’s amazing, sadly we will always find irresponsible owners like this man (he actually compared his well behaved dog with mine, when I was seriously questioning HIS behavior, SHAME ON HIM).
So, I would say… AMAZING BEAUTIFUL place, just BEWARE of irresponsible dog owners and prepare for battle!!!

I really like this park… during the day. I am little iffy about coming here during the night but during the day, my little guy loved the water fountain, the playground and the big green space. (But be aware, lots of dog owners use the green space for their dogs to go poop on and some of them don’t clean up after their dogs. SHAME!!!)
The city does a pretty good job of keeping the park clean and the play equipment in good working order.
The park is close to Choices, Starbucks and Blenz so it’s always easy to get a cup of coffee and come and enjoy the park area.

Such a small wonder this park is.
The entire length of this park is a fountain and stream combo that is as beautifully designed aesthetically as it is practically. It’s like walking through an art exhibition. If I didn’t see kids enjoying the water, I would have been so hesitant to put my own feet in. However, I did, and I felt like a kid.
This along with the cleanliness of the park gets 5 stars, and there is a large area for dogs to run around sans leash.
And of course a playground for kids. And of course it’s no ordinary playground, but also a work of art.
Bravissimo, Vancouver!

This is a beautiful little spot. It’s surprising that it is so clean and safe considering it is so central. There is a great mix of parents and kids and everyone is friendly and willing to at least smile at you. It’s almost as though the standoffish rule of Vancouver doesn’t apply here. Nice.
There are pigeons that my son likes to watch and count, a nice little stream and waterfall, and soft ground so kids aren’t risking breaking limbs if they fall.

Great urban park with a terrific off-​leash dog area. The only reason it doesn’t get 5 stars is because there is no grassy area within the off-​leash portion. The pebble material is far cleaner and better material than many other off-​leash mud pits, however. My dog just doesn’t like walking on gravel and prefers grass, yea, she’s a spoiled princess. It was mostly small to medium, sized dogs the times I took Agnes there as well which was far less intimidating for her than many other off-​leash areas with huge dogs bowling the little ones over constantly. And, the owners were all very pleasant, polite and friendly. Other areas of the park were gorgeously manicured and landscaped with plantings, water features (not running in January, but I am sure they are lovely in spring and summer), softly padded playground area for kids, chess board tables, even a public toilet. There are also a lot of coffee shops around so you can keep warm if it’s a little chilly while the dogs play. I think I took Agnes here at least 3 times a day during my weekend in Vancouver.

This is a great downtown park that’s well maintained.
It has a nice water-​feature (waterfall to a stream to a fountain), plenty of grass/​space, a separate (fenced) area for dogs to run round without a leash, benches & pick-​nick tables, and a playground (that’s isolated others aren’t bothered).
A fair amount of people come here to sun-​bathe in the summer.
Around end of business there are occasionally some teenagers at the pick-​nick tables drinking & smoking (not always cigarettes), but there’s a decent amount of police traffic which discourages that for a lengthy period. I’ve only ever seen them keeping to themselves, but the litter in that area is from them ditching beer & «energy-​drink» cans under bushes.

Beautiful! The kids’ games area has this soft floor that should keep them safe from falling (I guess, of course I rather won’t test it). Some dogs here and there, with the owners being nice and responsible at least the couple of times I’ve been there.
Lots of kids, unfortunately my daughter is not very social but she enjoyed seeing other kids play and trying to do the same. This mini-​waterfall and mini-​river is great for taking pictures.
Plenty of space to sit down and relax. Small green areas here and there. So far my favorite small-​to-​medium-​sized park!

Superb little park in the city! Great to bring your kids and/​or your dog. There are lots of coffee shops around, so you can grab a drink and let your little members of the family run amok. :)

My dogs love it here! They have so many little friends there to play with
Awesome off-​leash fenced in dog park, with gravel and rocks. It comes complete with a human AND doggie water fountains — and benches so sit on while your dogs run wild!

Great little urban park for the kids to let off steam. Several coffee shops for parents to get a cup to go and sit and relax while people watching. 100% wheelchair accessible park and new and unique play structure.

Remember when it was sunny? When the sky was blue and you left your umbrella at home?
When that day comes again, you should bring your lunch out to Emery Barnes park. It’s got to be one of the cutest urban parks… ever.
At the north end is a waterfall that trickles into a little stream. There’s nice sitting areas all along it. Pretty plants, very peaceful.
Choices is right across the street, so get lunch there, and then head on over!