Recreation Infrastructure
Home Recreation Recreation Infrastructure

The Town of Holyrood recognizes the importance of play, activity, and well-being! Below is a current list of all Parks, Playgrounds, and Trails located around the Town:

Playgrounds
Salmonier Line Community Playground

Location:
Kennedy’s Lane Ext.
This outdoor facility located on Kennedy’s Road Extension (off Salmonier Line) contains a large 5-12, Tot play structure, swing sets, modern climbing unit and a new accessible swing. The Playground contains an open green space for exploratory play and a paved walked track for parents to get exercise while their children are at play.
Holy Cross Elementary Playground
Holy Cross Elementary was pleased to introduce the new playground to students and residents in 2012. Fundraising efforts on behalf of the students and staff with corporate help from Hickey’s Building Supplies and the Town of Holyrood allowed the school to install this great structure. This is a large tot and 5-12 play structure complete with a set of swings and a large green space.
Marina Shores Playground
Holyrood’s newest playground! This tot and 5-12 play structure is in the scenic Marina Shores Development on Eagle Drive.
Highland Park Playground
Holyrood’s newest Playground! This Playground is located at the top of the cul-de-sac on Highland Park complete with swings, climber, slide, and rider.
Parks
Skate & Scooter Park
 
Location: Kennedy’s Lane Ext.
 
In 2013, Holyrood Town Council approved the purchase of a new Skate and Scooter Park for Holyrood on Kennedy’s Lane Extension. The design includes 2 bank ramps, 1 grind rail, 2 quarter pipes, 1 skate bench and a speed track for bikes and scooters. With the approval of 2 multi-courts for Salmonier Line Park, the Skate and Skooter Park will be temporally be located to a multicourt until the new park is built.
Holy Cross Swim Park

Location:
Liam Hickey Drive

The accessible lifeguarded Holyrood Swimming Park is well known throughout the Avalon Peninsula as an excellent place to bring your family for a day of swimming, sunbathing and picnicking. Located about 1 km from the Conception Bay Highway on Liam Hickey Drive, Holy Cross Swim Park provides clean and safe swimming for young and old alike. An accessible concrete enclosed pool is available for young children and those with a disability as our deep section is located in the main part of Maher’s River for the more advanced swimmer. Holy Cross Park has accessible boardwalk that leads to our canteen and bathroom facility.   During the summer months, park attendants are on duty at the front gate daily from 11:00am-7:00pm. Admission fee to the park is $2.00. Pets are prohibited from entering the park.

For summer camp and group bookings please contact recreation@holyrood.ca for more information.

Salmonier Nature Park
 
Location:
Salmonier Line
(12km south of Trans Canada Highway)

The Nature Park layout is based on a nature walk. The animals are in large natural enclosures scattered along the park trail, which allow visitors to see animals that are part of their natural surroundings, not divorced from them, and which also encourage visitors to feel they are part of these surroundings. Salmonier Nature Park takes people into the landscape where the animals are displayed in settings that are as natural as possible.

Aside from the 40 hectares of the park containing the nature trails and animal displays, there is an additional 1415 hectares which is undeveloped. This area, which abuts the Avalon Wilderness Reserve, includes mature boreal forest, barrens, peatlands and the headwaters of Salmonier River. Within the park, 84 species of birds, 15 species of mammals and over 170 species of vascular plants have been recorded. The area affords splendid opportunities for field research in a well-protected and managed environment.

Average annual visitation has more than doubled in the last four years, with an average of 40,000 visitors per year, approximately 5,000 of which consist of school groups in the Spring and Fall. The final report of the Newfoundland and Labrador Product Market Match Study indicated that Salmonier Nature Park was second only to the city of St. John’s as one of the top five tourist attractions likely to generate overnight in-province travel.

The role of the park is to help visitors gain an understanding and appreciation for wildlife and the natural community it inhabits. This role is based on the premise that it’s difficult to appreciate that which you don’t know.

Sports Fields
Holyrood Soccer Field
 
Location: Kennedy’s Lane Ext.
 
Our newest piece of infrastructure and home the Town’s CBC Summer Soccer Program is the Holyrood Soccer Field. This newly constructed field is located just off Salmonier Line on Kennedy’s Lane Ext is complete with a new washroom facility and walking track around the field. For further details on the CBC Summer Soccer Program please visit our Recreation Programs Page
Centennial Softball Field

Location:
Salmonier Line
Centennial Softball Field is located on Salmoiner Line. This regulation sized softball field is great for both Junior and Senior play. This field plays host to the CBC Softball Program each year. Please see our Recreation Program section for more information on the program. To rent the field please contact 229-7252 or email info@holyrood.ca
Walking Trails
Holyrood Boardwalk

Location:
Conception Bay Highway
One of Holyrood’s most prized possessions is the Boardwalk. Lining the front of our famous horse-shoe harbour, the Holyrood board walk is a great place to take an ocean-side walk, a great place to gaze at eagles and whales, and a great place to relax and take in the impressive view and sunset! Holyrood Council through funding partnerships with both Federal and Provincial Governments, is working on improvements through a 3 phase approach to the Boardwalk area. Phase 1 which consists of the Boardwalk Parking Lot to Byrne’s Road is currently under construction. Each summer, you can see Holyrood’s Boardwalk packed with residents and tourists throughout the day. If visiting, make sure you get to take the walk, it’s one you’ll always remember!
George Cove Mountain Trail

Location:
Salmonier Line

The cross on George Cove Mountain is symbolic of Holyrood – Holy Cross (“Holyrode” is interpreted by some historians to mean “Holy Cross” from the ancient Saxon word “rode” meaning “staff or cross.”).

In WWII, while the American Forces were stationed at  Navel Air Station Argentia, they decided to erect a cross on George Cove Mountain. They constructed a large wooden cross and mounted it securely at the top of the mountain. The Cross stood for many years but due to eventual deterioration, it gave way to a north westerly gale.

The initial idea was that the “Cross on the Hill” would last only for the duration of Come Home Year but it stood there from 1966 until the winter of 1992. On June 30, 1992, the George Cove Mountain Cross was  restored. The town continues to maintain it as a welcoming light to all who approach Holyrood by land, sea or air.

In 1999, the Town constructed a hiking trail which leads to the cross at the peak of the mountain. Visitors are strongly encouraged to walk the trail and obtain a beautiful and powerful view of Holyrood that will remain with oneself forever.

Murray’s Peak

Location:
Conception Bay Highway
 
Breathtaking views await you at the top of Murray’s Peak. After an invigorating climb, stop and taking in panoramic views of Conception Bay and Hawke Hills Ecoological Reserve.
Gardens
Community Garden

Location:
Salmonier Line

The Community Garden will consists of 31 raised beds, 25 for rental use and 6 for Community use. All raised boxes are 4ft by 8ft and fertilized soil will be provided by the Garden Committee with the help from Legge’s Poultry.

Gardener Information Kits
All the Holyrood Community Garden information you’ll require before you start working on your rental plot can be found in the document below. As our Community Garden Committee enforce a number of rules to ensure a quality growing season, we ask everyone to read this document: Community Garden Welcome Kit 2023

Gardener Applications
To apply for a 2023 Garden Plot please visit www.holyrood.ca/communitygarden