Beachside Park has been around for a long time. It’s a perfect place to stop and have a picnic on the return journey of the walking tour after you visit the Synagogue. Tennis, a playground and somewhere to fly a kite are what people remember about this park. In asking local people about the history of Beachside Park we heard that the land was donated by a local cottage owner on the corner of 5th ave with the stipulation that it remains a park.

Historically it has been a place for community kids to hang out and for large gatherings. Going back some years John Borlase was president of the Beachside Park association, and his sons Don and Bill Borlase looked after the maintenance of the tennis court. The town maintained the grass. Every year, at the end of the summer Bill would collect donations from the residents around the area and organize a BBQ with hotdogs, three-legged races for the kids, etc. Don son said it was really geared toward fun for the kids!

When I was about 6 or so, they used to have an annual Boundary Park picnic there. It was a big deal for me:) Tons of families would go. Volunteers would go door to door asking for donations to buy food and supplies. Does anyone remember Dixie Cups? Little cardboard pots of vanilla ice cream with cardboard pull-tops and wooden “spoons”., a big fave. They had sack races, tug-of-wars, and a grocery scramble for the Mums. Halcyon days, 50’s and 60’s - Ginny Brown Cottager