A planned, $2 million pier at Garry Point Park will be added to a long list of man-made influences at Richmond’s most southwestern tip.
An old European settler’s chart from 1885 shows “Indian” occupation of Garry Point, named after Nicholas Garry, deputy governor of Hudson’s Bay Company from 1822-1835. The Musqueam Point family lived there before being removed.
Longtime Stevestonite Dave Semple recalls his teenage years hanging out at the point, which, in the 1960s through to the early 1990s, was a federally-owned industrial area used as a dumping ground for river dredgeate. As such, sand dunes were ubiquitous.
“That’s where we played, dug caves and did stupid stuff,” chuckled Semple, who now works as a senior manager with the City of Richmond, helping to formulate a new Steveston area plan.
Much of the park today (especially its rounded mounds) never existed, although Semple notes there’s always been a natural point — largely a marsh at the tip of Sturgeon Bank.
In the early 20th century, two natural sloughs were dug out at the north end, for fishing boats. One, Scotch Pond, is still there while the other, further north, has been consumed by silt.
Semple said the Mathers Bulldozing company managed much of the sand dunes before the city bought the land.
Many people who grew up in Richmond before the 1990s can recall teenage hangouts at the point. There are several tales of young people dying or being injured on the dunes, or in the nearby river.
“It was an industrial part of Steveston and ya had to be careful out there,” said Semple.
Once the city grew in population, walking paths and amenities were built on the point and secret hideouts were relegated to memories.
Now, Semple rejoices in the “unbelievable, multipurpose park that it’s become. Now you can do lots of things at Garry Point Park. Or you don’t have to do anything! There will be lots of discussion on what to do next,” he said.
