Minoru Park Quick Info
- Location
- 7191 Granville Ave, Richmond, BC, in the heart of Richmond City Centre
- Best for
- Lake walks, cherry blossoms, families with kids, sports fans, photographers and heritage lovers
- Highlights
- Minoru Lakes, Minoru Chapel and Pierrefonds Gardens, the oval track, sports fields, a playground and the Richmond Cultural Centre with the main library
- Cost
- Free to enter and walk. Indoor facilities, programs and events set their own fees.
- Getting there
- Roughly a 10 to 15 minute walk from Richmond-Brighouse Station on the Canada Line, depending on your entrance
- Best season
- Spring for blossoms, summer for long evenings, fall for colour, winter for quiet lake walks
- Official info
- City of Richmond Minoru Park page
Hours, field bookings, parking rules and facility fees change. Check the City of Richmond before you go.
Minoru Park Richmond is the green heart of the city: a large central park where quiet lake paths, a heritage chapel and sunken garden, a running track, sports fields and the main library all sit within a short stroll of each other. It is one of the easiest places in Richmond to fill a free afternoon, whether you want a slow walk, a spring blossom photo or a spot for the kids to run.
This guide covers what to see at Minoru Park in Richmond BC, the best seasons to visit, how to get there by Canada Line and bus, and how to build a visit around the lakes, the chapel, the track and the Cultural Centre. For more places across the city, see our Richmond guide.
Minoru Lakes: Walks, Ducks and the Boardwalk
The Minoru Lakes district is the calm side of the park. Wide paths wind around the water, with floral beds, mature trees and benches placed for short rests. The City renewed the lakes with new pathways, plaza spaces, planting and lit boardwalks, and a cascading waterfall feature, while keeping the feel of the original design.
This is the best part of Minoru Park for an easy walk. The paths are flat and wide, which suits strollers, wheelchairs and slow wanderers, and ducks and other waterbirds make it an easy stop for kids. Let the kids watch the birds from the edge of the path rather than feed them.
Minoru Park Cherry Blossoms and Seasonal Flowers
Minoru Park cherry blossoms are one of the main reasons locals visit in spring. Pink canopies appear around the park, and the Minoru Chapel garden is known for hyacinths and bulbs. Young cherry trees and daffodils also appear along the Granville Avenue side near the Cultural Centre Annex.
Blossom timing shifts every year with the weather, but late March into April is the usual window in Metro Vancouver. Weekday mornings are calmer for photos.
Minoru Chapel and Pierrefonds Gardens
Minoru Chapel is the best-known heritage building in the park. Built in 1891, it was the first church in Richmond and on Lulu Island, and it was moved to Minoru Park in 1967. It later became an interdenominational chapel that is used for weddings and memorial services, so please keep noise down if a ceremony is on.
Right beside it, Pierrefonds Gardens is a formal sunken garden with symmetrical beds and a surrounding hedge. It honours the twinning of Richmond with Pierrefonds, Quebec, and it was recognized by the City in 1979. The garden is small, tidy and especially pretty when the spring bulbs are open.
Minoru Oval Track and Sports Fields
The sports side of Minoru Park is a big part of its identity. The Minoru oval track and the surrounding fields host training, community games and larger events, and the athletic side is connected to the lakes by walking paths. Artificial turf fields are available for bookings, and the park has a long baseball history at Latrace Field.
If you are visiting just to watch or jog, the track area is a good place to see Richmond at work and play. Field availability and bookings are managed by the City, so check the official park page before planning a game.
Playground and Family Time at Minoru Park
Families can pair the playground with the lakes for an easy half day. Kids can burn energy at the play area, watch the ducks, then walk the paths or have a picnic on the grass. The Minoru Centre for Active Living nearby offers indoor options when the weather turns, including aquatic and fitness programming.
- Start at the playground, then walk the lakes at a toddler pace
- Pack snacks and a blanket for a picnic by the water
- Use the Cultural Centre and library as a rainy day backup, see our rainy day activities guide
Richmond Library and Cultural Centre
The southeast end of the park holds the Richmond Cultural Centre, the hub of the city arts community. It houses the Brighouse branch of Richmond Public Library, the City archives, the Richmond Museum and the Richmond Art Gallery, along with arts programs and a seniors centre. The Gateway Theatre also sits on the west side of the park, near the chapel.
Brighouse Library and Cultural Centre
Read, browse an exhibit or shelter from the rain without leaving the park. The Cultural Centre makes Minoru a good cultural stop as well as a green one.
Minoru Park in Winter and at Night
Minoru Park is quieter in winter, and a cold snap can leave a skin of ice across the lakes. After dark, lit boardwalks and reflections make the water a calm place for an evening walk. Stay on the paths, keep off thin ice and follow any posted signs.
A Short History of Minoru Park
The park sits on the site of a former horse racetrack and occasional airstrip. The racetrack dates to 1909, and the park takes its name from Minoru, the racehorse, though the horse never actually raced in Richmond. The grounds closed during the First World War, reopened in 1920 as Brighouse Park, and became Minoru Park officially in 1960.
Some of the elms and oaks you see today were planted around 1925 around the old racetrack. Later, the lakes, gardens, trails and sports facilities replaced the racing grounds, and the park hosted the Richmond O Zone during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Plan Your Visit to Minoru Park
Quick lake loop
Walk the Minoru Lakes paths, stop at the boardwalk, then see the chapel and Pierrefonds Gardens before you leave.
Family afternoon
Playground first, picnic by the water, then a visit to the library or Cultural Centre for a quiet indoor break.
Active day out
Combine a track or field session with a lake walk, a swim or skate at the nearby facilities and a meal in Richmond Centre.
Getting to Minoru Park: Canada Line, Bus and Parking
The park is easy to reach without a car. Richmond-Brighouse Station on the Canada Line is roughly a 10 to 15 minute walk from the park edge, depending on which entrance you use, and many TransLink bus routes serve Brighouse. Cyclists will find the area very bikeable.
Parking is available around the park and the Cultural Centre, but rules and fees vary by lot and event. Read the posted signs and check the City of Richmond for current information, especially on game days and festival weekends.
Best Time to Visit Minoru Park
Spring
Cherry blossoms, hyacinths and daffodils. The most photogenic season.
Summer
Long evenings, sports fields in use and the lakes at their greenest.
Fall
Warm tree colour and quiet paths, a good match for our fall photo guide.
Visitor Tips for Minoru Park
- Wear comfortable shoes, the park is large and you may walk further than planned
- Respect any ceremony at Minoru Chapel and stay on garden paths
- Do not feed the ducks, and keep dogs leashed unless a posted area says otherwise
- Check City of Richmond pages for field closures, events and facility hours
- Visit on a weekday morning for the calmest blossom photos
- Double check details before you go, this guide is not a substitute for official notices
More to Explore Near Minoru Park
Minoru Park FAQ
Where is Minoru Park in Richmond BC?
Minoru Park is at 7191 Granville Ave in the centre of Richmond, BC. It sits in Richmond City Centre, close to Brighouse and the Canada Line.
Is Minoru Park free to visit?
Yes, walking in the park is free. Indoor facilities such as the aquatic centre, arenas and programs, and field bookings, set their own fees.
What is there to do at Minoru Park?
You can walk around Minoru Lakes, see cherry blossoms in spring, visit Minoru Chapel and Pierrefonds Gardens, use the oval track and sports fields, let kids play at the playground and explore the Richmond Cultural Centre and library.
When do the cherry blossoms bloom at Minoru Park?
Bloom times change every year with the weather. In Metro Vancouver the usual window is late March into April, so check recent local reports before you go.
Is there a playground at Minoru Park?
Yes, the park has a playground, along with lake paths and open grass that suit family visits.
How do I get to Minoru Park by transit?
Take the Canada Line to Richmond-Brighouse Station and walk about 10 to 15 minutes, depending on your entrance. Several TransLink bus routes also serve the Brighouse area.
What is Minoru Chapel?
Minoru Chapel was built in 1891 and was the first church in Richmond and on Lulu Island. It was moved to the park in 1967 and is used for weddings and memorial services.
Where can I park at Minoru Park?
There is parking around the park and the Cultural Centre, but rules and fees vary by lot and event. Check posted signs and the City of Richmond for current details.
Is Minoru Park good for walking?
Yes. The lake paths are wide and flat, and trails connect the quiet lakes side to the sports side. It is a good option for an easy walk in Richmond.
Plan More of Richmond
Pair Minoru Park with the nature park, Steveston and the waterfront for a full Richmond day.
Explore RichmondEasy Walks