Hawthorne Rotary Park is a public park in Surrey, British Columbia. The park's main entrance is located along 144th Street and 104 Avenue. There are many other entrances that can be accessed by foot or vehicle. The park has a perimeter of and an area of . The park includes a water park, playground, picnic area, nature trails, ponds and two creeks. Hawthorne Park has a diverse ecosystem that contains a variety of invasive and native plants and animals.
History
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In 1973, the City Of Surrey discussed land expropriation for Hawthorne Park. By April 6, 1987, the Surrey City Council had decided that the Parks and Recreation Commission had not provided enough details to justify using $100,000 towards the Phase I construction of Hawthorne Park. The Surrey-Guildford Rotary Club presented a $20,000 cheque to Hawthorne Park on November 25, 1991, in honour of having the park named as Hawthorne Rotary Park. Satellite imagery shows that during 2004-2005 a gazebo was built as a central point for Hawthorne Gardens. The playground inside Hawthorne Park was renovated and was finished between 2011 and 2012. In the summer of 2000, the City Of Surrey Parks, Recreation, and Culture Department recommended the acquisition of two properties for the expansion of Hawthorne Park. These properties were located at 14350-108 Avenue, and at 14364 and 14372-108 Avenue. This area is now a part of Hawthorne Park.
Physical geography
Geology
In Hawthorne Park, there are two bodies of water known as Bon Accord Creek and Hawthorne Stream. On the sides of the streams, large, white granite rocks line the edges. It is common practice for workers to position rocks in such a way, to prevent widening of the river through erosion. If the river were to widen, it could cause structural problems, or unstable grounds.
In Hawthorne Park, the soil has traces of till, iron, calcium, salt, and magnesium. Calcium is found from the heavy precipitation in the Guildford area. Iron is very common in stream paths and can be spotted if the area of water and rocks are tinted with a copper tone.
Landscape
The landscape in Hawthorne Park is mostly flat with small hills and a parking lot. The elevation of Hawthorne Park varies between 101–106 meters above sea level, with the highest elevation being the main parking lot (49.194009, -122.825645), and the lowest being a patch of forest at 91–95 meters.
The land near Hawthorne Park could be considered fertile based on the many different types of berries and plants that grow in the area. This feature in the park makes it the perfect land for flowers and plants, which attracts different species of bugs and wildlife in the area. Hawthorne Park has many man-made aspects such as small wooden bridges, erratic boulders, small fences, and trails.
Trails
The trails at Hawthorne Park are approximately 2.6 kilometers long, and would take less than an hour to walk. Throughout this trail, many of the plants and animals that inhabit Hawthorne Park can be seen. The trails consist of 3/4 road mulch, causing the paths to be slightly rocky.
Hawthorne Creek
The source of Hawthorne Creek starts behind the properties on the southeast corner at the intersection of 140 Street and 106 Avenue. The creek proceeds to flow through another pipe under a small pathway that runs parallel to 140 Street. The water flows north for a short distance before being directed east along 106 Avenue eventually flowing into the pond at the center of Hawthorne Park.
Bon Accord Creek
Bon Accord Creek, which flows through Hawthorne Park, was named after a steamboat dock that was used in the late 1800s. Bon Accord was a piece of land northeast of New Westminster on the southern shoreline of the Fraser River which was pre-empted by William Ross, John Hasselwood and Robert Halloway. One of the uses of the land was for delivering cordwood up the Fraser River to Yale. In 1885, a fish hatchery also existed at this location next to Bon Accord Creek. Donald Mann, who worked in Canadian Northern Railway, purchased the land from the New Westminster Southern Railway. The name of Bon Accord then changed to Port Mann.